BX  8491    .W3  1857 
Wakeley,  J.   B.  1809-1875. 
The  heroes  of  Methodism 


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• 


T  H  E 


HEROES  OF  METHODISM, 

^  COKTAINISO 

CHARACTERISTIC  ANECDOTES  OF  THEIR  PERSONAL  HISTORY. 

The  Eev.  J.  B.  WAKELEY. 


"  taliakt  fob  the  tbutr." 

"hen  that  hazaboed  thkir  lives 

vob  thc  name  of  odr  lop.o  jesus  ci1ri4t 


FIFTH  THOUSAND. 


l'L<BU^iH^-D  BY  'DARLTaN^  PORTER, 

200  3IULBEBRY-STREET. 

1857. 


 - 

Entered  according  toAciyot  Congress,  in  the  year  1856, 
BY  CAj^ff^  &  PHILLIPS, 
in  the  Clerk's  Office  ofl^^i^^istrict  Court  of  the  Southern  District 


New-York. 


PREFACE. 


The  world  has  had  its  heroes.  The  title  hero  has 
been  applied  almost  exclusively  to  men  who  have 
distinguished  themselves  on  the  field  of  battle,  or 
who  have  performed  noble  deeds  of  moral  or  physi- 
cal daring.  But  what  is  true  heroism  ?  And  who 
are  the  true  heroes  ?  True  heroism  "  is  the  sacrifice 
of  self  for  the  good  of  others^''  says  the  Rev.  William 
Arthur.  Then  the  self-sacrificing  man  for  the  good 
of  his  race  is  the  real  hero. 

The  Church  has  had  her  heroes.  In  its  early 
ages  there  were  Moses,  and  Joshua  his  illustrious 
successor ;  Caleb  and  ]N"ehemiah ;  at  a  later  period, 
Isaiah  and  Daniel ;  in  the  days  of  the  Apostles,  Ste- 
phen and  Paul;  afterward  Wickliff  and  Zwingle, 
Luther  and  Knox,  Wesley  and  Whitefield,  Coke  and 
Asbury,  and  other 

"  Immortal  names  that  cannot  die." 

The  subjects  of  this  work  were  heroes  in  the  loft- 
iest sense  of  the  word.  With  no  sword  but  that  of 
the  Spirit,  no  banner  but  that  of  the  cross,  and 
no  commander  but  our  spiritual  Joshua,  the  leader 
of  the  Lord's  host,  they  went  forth  to  glorious  war, 
having  for  their  motto,  "  Victory  or  Death."  They 
were  the  heroes  of  Methodism ;  their  great  object 
to  promote  "  Christianity  in  earnest." 


iv 


PREFACE. 


The  design  of  this  work  is  not  so  much  to  give  a 
history  of  the  men,  as  anecdotes  and  incidents  which 
illustrate  their  character,  and  the  times  in  which 
they  lived. 

Anecdotes  have  beenjustly  styled,  "  The  Flowers 
of  Biography  and  History."  Those  which  illustrate 
the  public  or  private  character  of  distinguished  per- 
sonages, have  at  all  times  been  read  with  deep 
interest,  because  they  show  the  disposition  of  the 
men,  and  furnish  us  with  a  key  to  their  character. 
Furthermore,  a  striking  anecdote  or  incident  will  be 
remembered  when  a  logical  argument  is  forgotten. 
It  will  not  only  interest  the  reader  at  the  time,  but 
will  awaken  in  his  soul  a  desire  to  know  more  of 
the  person  concerning  whom  it  is  related. 

Some  of  the  men  described  here  are  compara- 
tively unknown  in  history,  or  to  the  Church — such 
noble  champions  as  Caleb  B.  Pedicord  and  John 
Easter.  Some  of  the  incidents  may  be  considered 
trivial.  It  is  all  we  have  of  the  men.  It  is  hke 
gathering  gold-dust;  no  matter  how  small  the  parti- 
cles, they  are  gold. 

My  materials  I  have  gathered  from  ever>^  availa- 
ble source.  I  have  corresponded  with  aged  minis- 
ters all  over  the  country,  in  order  to  gather  anecdotes 
and  incidents  never  before  published.  I  have  also 
conversed  with  aged  ministers  and  members,  and 
from  their  trembling  lips  have  written  much  that 
would  soon  have  been  forgotten  and  lost.  The  reader 
will  find  much  in  this  volume  he  has  never  seen 
before.  Other  anecdotes  have  been  gathered  from 
old  magazines,  which  are  seen  and  read  by  few ; 
many  of  them  are  from  the  other  side  of  the  Atlan- 
tic, and  from  biographies  not  published  in  this 


PREFACE. 


T 


country,  as  well  as  a  few  that  have  been.  Others 
have  been  obtained  from  fugitive  newspapers  that 
would  sooii  have  been  numbered  among  the  things 
that  were.  Some  anecdotes  concerning  the  same 
men  were  widely  scattered,  a  little  here  and  a  little 
there,  so  far  apart  that  they  appeared  to  have  no  rela- 
tion to  each  other.  They  are  brought  together,  and 
there  is  perfect  harmony,  and  they  make  quite  an 
interesting  family. 

I  have  been  encouraged  to  go  on  in  my  labour 
by  letters  from  beloved  brethren  in  the  ministry  and 
laity,  approving  of  a  work  of  this  kind,  and  promis- 
ing assistance. 

An  extract  from  a  few  of  the  letters  I  have  received 
cannot  be  out  of  place  here. 

The  following  is  from  Bishop  Simpson : 

Pittsburg,  Dec.  14,  1854. 
Dear  Brother, — I  fully  endorse  your  views  as  to  rescuing 
incidents,  &c.,  from  oblivion.  It  ought  to  be  done,  and  done 
speedily.  So  numerous  are  my  engagements  that  I  shall  not  be 
able  to  contribute  much,  if  any.  I  hope  you  will  carry  out  your 
plans,  &c.  Yours  truly,  M.  Simpson. 

The  Hon.  John  McLean,  one  of  the  Judges  of  the 
Supreme  Court  of  the  United  States,  who  has  done 
a  noble  service  to  the  Church  by  writing  the  lives 
of  the  Kev.  Philip  Gatch  and  the  Eev.  John  Collins, 
writes  thus : 

Washington,  Dec.  17,  1854. 
Dear  Sir, — Should  Providence  spare  my  life,  and  time  be 
afforded  me,  it  will  give  me  pleasure  to  write  two  or  three  sketches 
or  more,  of  clergymen,  whom  I  have  known,  and  who  have  gone 
to  their  account.  John  McLean. 

From  Bishop  Kavanaugh,  of  the  Southern  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  Church,  I  received  the  following : 


vi 


PREFACE. 


Versailes,  Kentucky,  March  20,  1855. 
My  Dear  Brother, — I  highly  appreciate  the  object  you 
have  presented  for  my  consideration.  It  is  said,  and  I  am  glad 
of  it,  "  the  righteous  shall  be  in  everlasting  remembrance." 
I  will  give  my  attention  to  the  laudable  purpose  you  are  cher- 
ishing, and  hope  to  render  you  some  assistance  soon.  This 
Western  and  Southern  country  has  been  very  rich  in  its  mate- 
rials to  furnish  something  interesting  of  the  kind  you  ask  for, 
and  the  present  generation  should  preserve  such  incidents  from 
oblivion.  I  hope  to  have  leisure  and  opportunity  to  preserve 
something  of  the  kind  you  have  suggested. 

Most  respectfully  and  fraternally  yours, 

H.  H.  Kavanaugh. 

I  make  these  extracts,  not  to  show  that  the  writers 
endorse  this  work,  for  they  have  not  read  it,  but 
that  they  highly  approve  of  a  book  of  this  kind.  I 
am  availing,  yea,  desirous  to  send  it  out  upon  its  own 
merits.  If  it  has  in  itself  the  elements  of  immortal- 
ity, it  will  live  and  be  read  when  the  hand  that  pens 
this  sentence  lies  cold  across  the  writer's  bosom ;  if 
it  is  of  no  value,  the  sooner  it  perislies  and  is  for- 
gotten the  better. 

I  also  received  encouraging  letters  from  Bishops 
Morris,  Scott,  and  others. 

Bishop  Ames,  in  a  letter  to  Kev.  F.  G.  Holliday, 
says :  "  Some  pains  have  been  taken  by  several  per- 
sons to  perpetuate  the  memory  of  those  who  distin- 
guished themselves  in  border  warfare  with  Indian 
tribes ;  but,  up  to  the  present  time,  little  or  no 
effort  has  been  made  to  rescue  from  oblivion  the 
memory  of  those  moral  heroes,  who,  as  spiritual 
leaders  of  the  forlmm-hojpe^  under  the  great  Captain 
of  our  salvation,  guided  the  Church  to  battle  and  to 
victory.  Though  comparatively  unknown  and  un- 
honoured  on  earth,  their  'record  is  on  high.'  But 
they  ought  not  to  remain  unknown  and  unhonoured 


PREFACE. 


vii 


among  men.  It  is  a  work  both  oi piety  and pai/T'tot- 
ism  to  embalm  their  virtues  in  history,  and  thus 
hand  over  their  example  for  the  respect  and  imita- 
tion of  posterity."  These  noble  sentiments  of  the 
bishop  will  find  a  cordial  response  in  many  a  heart. 

I  am  deeply  indebted  to  Bishops  Morris  and  Ames, 
as  well  as  to  Dr.  Thomas  E.  Bond,  Eev.  Henry 
Boehm,  Rev.  Alfred  Brunson  of  Wisconsin,  and 
Samuel  G.  Arnold,  Esq.,  as  well  as  many  others,  for 
interesting  incidents  by  which  this  work  has  been 
enriched. 

There  is  one  thing  to  comfort  the  reader:  the 
anecdotes  are  not  fictitious,  the  incidents  are  not 
apocryphal.  They  are  not  manufactured  to  make 
a  book.  A  lad  was  begging  of  a  gentleman  in 
England,  when  the  man  inquired  why  he  solicited 
charity.  The  boy  said  his  father  was  dead  and  his 
mother  was  a  widow,  and  very  poor.  The  stranger 
inquired,  "What  did  your  father  do  when  living?" 
The  lad  answered,  "  He  was  an  accident-maker  for 
the  newspapers,"  I  am  no  anecdote-maker.  But 
I  have  taken  some  pains  to  furnish  the  reader  with 
some  already  made,  which  bear  the  image  and 
superscription  of  truth. 

This  book  will  be  read  by  those  who  have  never 
seen  the  writer,  and  by  old  "  familiar  friends"  with 
whom  he  has  "  taken  sweet  counsel  and  walked  to 
the  house  of  God  in  company."  In  a  ministry  of 
nearly  a  quarter  of  a  century,  it  has  been  his  privi- 
lege to  form  a  pleasing  acquaintance  with  many 
such  friends.  Their  parlours,  tables,  and  firesides 
have  witnessed  the  hearty  welcomes  he  has  received 
into  their  hospitable  dwellings.  The  author  need 
not  say  to  them  that  for  years  he  has  had  a  fondness 


viii 


PREFACE. 


for  antiquity  ;  that  he  loves  an  "old  chair,"  an  "old 
book,"  an  "old  soldier  of  the  Revolution,''  or  an  "old 
soldier  of  the  cross."  If  it  is  childish,  he  is  willing 
to  be  considered  a  child.  They  also  know  his  de- 
light in  anecdotes  of  olden  times.  For  years  he  has 
been  treasuring  them  up.  The  portfolio  is  now  open, 
and  the  reader  is  permitted  to  look  into  it.  It  will 
remind  some  of  bygone  days  and  years,  when  it 
was  the  writer's  privilege  to  sit  in  their  dwellings, 
when  some  pleasant  anecdote  was  related,  and  a 
little  sunshine  was  thrown  around  the  hearth-stone, 
and  smiles  for  a  time  took  the  place  of  tears. 
The  "  heroes"  named  in  this  volume  are  all  dead. 

"  They  sleep  their  last  sleep,  they  have  fought  their  last  battle, 
No  sound  can  awake  them  to  glory  again." 

We  also  are  "  passing  away,"  and  should 

"  Walk  thoughtfully  on  the  silent,  solemn  8hora» 
Of  that  vast  ocean  we  must  sail  so  soon." 

I  will  now,  as  the  Indians  say,  "  shake  hands  in  my 
heart"  with  the  readers  of  this  book,  invoking  the 
favour  of  Him,  "  whose  blessing  maketh  rich  and 
addeth  no  sorrow,"  to  rest  upon  them.  K  they 
enjoy  half  as  much  in  its  perusal  as  I  have  in  writing 
it,  I  shall  be  amply  compensated.  In  communing 
with  the  mighty  dead,  I  trust  we  shall  partake  of 
their  spirit,  and  "follow  the  example  of  them  who 
through  faith  and  patience  inherit  the  promises." 

I  cannot  conclude  without  acknowledging  my 
special  obligation  to  the  Rev.  John  M'Clintock, 
D.  D.,  the  able  editor  of  the  Methodist  Quarterly 
Review,  at  whose  suggestion  this  work  was  com- 
menced, and  under  whose  kind  supervision  it  is 
published.  J.  B.  Wakeley. 

New-York  Dec.  14,  1855, 


CONTENTS. 


FRANCIS  ASBURY  f-age  13 

Bishop  Asbury's  Manner   21 

Bishop  Asbury  could  read  Men   22 

Bishop  Asbury  as  a  Preacher   23 

Francis  and  his  Mother   24 

Bishop  Asbury's  Manner  of  Reading  the  Bible   25 

Bishop  Asbury's  Illustrations   25 

Bishop  Asbury  on  Temptation   26 

Bishop  Asbury  on  the  Best  Site  for  a  House  of  Worship   26 

Bishop  Asbury's  Advice  to  Young  Preachers   27 

Bishop  Asbury's  Punctuality   27 

Bishop  Asbury's  Love  for  the  Itinerancy   28 

Bishop  Asbury's  Regard  for  Children   29 

Bishop  Asbury  and  Punch   29 

Bishop  Asbury  and  Rev.  William  Burke   34 

Bishop  Asbury  and  Primitive  Methodist  Simplicity   34 

Bishop  Asbury  among  the  Log-Cabins  and  in  the  Quarterly 

Conference   35 

Bishop  Asbury's  Reproof  to  Conference  Speech-makers   38 

Bishop  Asbury's  Regard  for  the  Sheep  of  the  Wilderness   39 

Bishop  Asbury  and  the  Appointments  of  Preachers   39 

Bishop  Asbury  and  His  Portrait   40 

Bishop  Asbury  and  Tom  Jenkins   42 

Bishop  Asbury  and  the  Love-Feast   47 

Bishop  Asbury  on  the  Marriage  of  Preachers   48 

Bishop  Asbury  and  the  Rev.  James  Quiun   49 

Bishop  Asbury  and  the  Inquisitive  Lady   50 

Bishop  Asbury  and  the  Almond  Nuts   51 

Bishop  Asbury  and  the  Crust  of  Bread   52 

Bishop  Asbury  on  the  Different  Generations  of  Methodists   52 

Bishop  Asbury  and  the  Young  Minister...   54 

Bishop  Asbury  Impatient  of  Profitless  Discussions   54 

Bishop  Asbury  and  the  Economical  Steward   55 

Asbury  in  the  Family — in  the  Bail-Room — at  the  Ferry   55 

Asbury  Redeeming  the  Widow's  Cow..    56 

Asbury  the  Monk  and  the  Nuns   57 

1* 


4  CONTENTS. 

Asbury  and  his  Fair  Guide  Page  58 

Bishop  Asbury  and  the  Secretary   59 

Bishop  Asbury  and  the  Soldiers   60 

Asbury  and  a  Troop  of  Preachers   61 

Bishop  Asbury  and  the  Physicians   62 

Bishop  Asbury  and  the  Duellists   63 

Bishop  Asbury  and  R.  Hubbard   65 

Asbury  and  John  Kline   66 

Asbury  and  the  Rowdies   67 

Asbury  and  Seth  Mattison   68 

Asbury  on  Ministerial  Popularity   68 

Bishop  Asbury  and  the  Brandy  Bottle   69 

Bishop  Asbury 's  Reasons  for  Celibacy   70 

Asbury  and  the  Charitable  Society   71 

Francis  Asbury's  Last  Sermon  in  England   72 

Bishop  Asbury  Sowing  Good  Seed   73 

Bishop  Asbury's  Last  Sermon   73 

THE  PtEV.  THOMAS  COKE,  LL.  D  .,  77 

Coke's  First  Interview  with  Asbury   80 

Coke  and  the  Useful  Book    81 

Coke  and  the  Slanderer  of  John  Wesley   82 

Coke  on  Altering  an  Article  of  Faith   84 

Coke  and  Miss  Smith   85 

Coke  a  Jonah   86 

Coke  Producing  a  Calm   87 

Coke  and  the  Captain   88 

Coke  Bought  at  His  Own  Price   88 

Coke  and  His  Hostess's  Family    89 

THE  REV.  WILLIAM  M'KENDREE   93 

M'Kendree  and  the  Aged  Minister   101 

M'Kendree  and  his  First  Circuit   102 

M'Kendree  and  Bishop  Asbury   104 

Two  Poor  Bishops   105 

M'Kendree  and  Mr.  M'Namar   105 

M'Kendree  and  the  Enraged  Brother    106 

M'Kendree  and  William  Burke   106 

M'Kendree  and  the  Extortioner ;  or,  the  Power  of  Conscience  107 

M'Kendree  and  the  Gentleman   ... ,   108 

The  Sermon  that  made  M'Kendree  Bishop   109 

Bishop  M'Kendree  and  the  Penitent   Ill 

M'Kendree  and  the  Calvinists   113 

M'Kendree  and  the  Western  Conference   113 

M'Kendree  and  the  Quarterly  Meeting   114 

Bishop  M'Kendree  and  the  Conflagration   114 

Bishop  M'Kendree  and  Samuel  Parker    115 

Bishop  M'Kendree  and  Rev.  John  F.Wright   116 

Bishop  M'Kendree's  Sermon  before  the  New-England  Con- 
ference  116 

Bishop  M'Kendree's  Sermon  at  Paris,  New-York   117 

General  Jackson  and  the  Noisy  Prayer-Meeting   119 


CONTENTS.  5 

A  Noble  Woman  and  a  Noble  Toast    Page  120 

Bishop  M'Kendree  and  the  Little  Boy   121 

Bishop  M'Kendree  and  the  Union  Meeting-House   123 

Bishop  M'Kendree  and  his  Dying  Sister   123 

Bishop  M'Kendree's  Farewell  to  the  General  Conference   132 

Bishop  M'Kendree  and  the  New- York  Conference   133 

Bishop  M'Kendree  and  the  Young  Preacher   134 

THE  REV.  ENOCH  GEORGE   137 

Enoch  George's  First  Interview  with  Bishop  Asbury   143 

Enoch  George's  Personal  Religious  Habits   143 

George  and  the  Valley  of  Baca   144 

George  and  his  First  Circuit   145 

George  and  the  Episcopal  Clergyman   145 

Bishop  George  and  Abner  Chase   146 

Bishop  George  and  his  Portrait   147 

Bishops  George  and  Hedding,  and  the  Landlord   148 

Bishop  George's  Visit  to  Danbury,  Conn   149 

Bishop  George  and  the  Rev.  Moses  Hill   149 

Bishop  George  and  the  Little  Girl    151 

Bishop  George  preaching  the  People  up  to  the  Third  Heaven  152 

Bishop  George  and  his  Pursuer   153 

Bishop  George  and  the  Preachers  of  the  Genesee  Conference  154 

Bishop  George  and  the  Impostor   155 

Bishop  George  and  the  Preacher  who  wished  to  be  accom- 
modated  157 

Bishop  George  and  the  Unwelcome  Preacher   15S 

Bishop  George  at  the  Maine  Conference   165 

THE  REV.  ROBERT  WILLIAMS   109 

Robert  Williams  and  the  Rev.  Mr.  Jarrett   172 

Mr.  Williams  and  the  People  in  Norfolk   173 

Williams  and  the  Lee  Family   173 

:HE  rev.  RICHARD  BOARDMAN   177 

Boardman's  Remarkable  Deliverance   178 

Boardman  and  the  Mother  of  the  Rev.  Jabez  Bunting   179 

Boardman  and  the  Soldiers   181 

Boardman  and  Pilmore   181 

Pilmore  and  the  Parish  Priest   182 

THE  REV.  CALEB  B.  PEDICORD   185 

Singing  on  his  Way   186 

Pedicord's  Text  and  Sermon   187 

Pedicord,  the  Spiritual  Father  of  Thomas  Ware   188 

Pedicord  receives  the  Thanks  of  Thomas  Ware   190 

Pedicord  and  Joe  MoUiner     190 

Pedicord  and  the  Young  Lady   194 

THE  REV.  WILLIAM  GILL   199 

Gill  and  Doctor  Rush   199 

The  Grave  of  Gill   200 


6 


CONTENTS. 


THE  REV.  JOHN  TCNNELL  Page  201 

Tnnnell  and  the  Sailor   202 

Tujinell,  Geueral  Russel  and  his  Wife    203 

Tuiinell,  Gill,  and  Pedicord  compared   205 

THE  REV.  RICHARD  IVY   206 

Ivy  and  the  two  American  Officers   206 

THE  REV.  JOSEPH  BRADFORD   211 

Bradford  and  John  Wesley   212 

Bradford  and  Mr.  Wesley  at  Bristol   213 

Bradford  and  Lady  Huntington   214 

Bradford  and  the  Angel   215 

Bradford,  AVesley,  and  the  Chaise   215 

THE  REV.  JOHX  EASTER   219 

Easter,  M'Kendree,  and  George   221 

John  Easter  and  Jesse  Lee   222 

Easter  and  Rev.  Stith  Mead   223 

Easter  and  the  Thunder-Storm   224 

Easter  and  the  Enraged  Husband,  and  his  Coixrageous  Wife...  225 

THE  REV.  JESSE  LEE   229 

Lee  enlisted  by  Bishop  Asbury   231 

Lee  and  the  non-committal  Quaker   232 

Lee  and  his  lost  Hat   233 

Lee,  Asbury,  and  the  Superintendent  of  a  Ball   233 

Lee  and  the  Calvinistic  Minister   234 

Lee's  Reply  to  the  Man  who  wished  to  know  if  he  had  a  lib- 
eral Education   235 

Lee  and  his  Co-Labourers  opposed  in  New-England   236 

Lee's  "  Warm  and  Cold  Reception"  in  Stratford   237 

Lee  and  the  Say  brook  Platform   238 

Lee  and  the  Aged  Minister   238 

Mr.  Lee's  First  Sermon  in  Redding,  and  its  Results   239 

Lee  and  Elder  Hull   242 

Lee's  Reception  in  Bridgeport,  in  consequence  of  a  singular 

Dream   243 

Lee  and  a  Self-Conceited  Bigot   244 

Lee  and  the  Baptist  Preacher   245 

Lee's  German  taken  for  Hebrew   246 

Lee  and  Rev.  Mr.  Darrough   246 

Lee's  Cold  Reception  from  Col.  B   247 

Lee  and  the  Yankee  Training-Day   247 

Lee  and  the  Lawyers   248 

Lee's  Retort  upon  George  Pickering   249 

Lee  Retorted  upon  by  Asa  Shinn   250 

Lee's  unsuccessful  Prayer  in  reference  to  Matrimony   251 

Lee's  Manner  of  Introducing  Himself   252 

Lee's  Singular  Dream   252 

Lee's  Preaching   253 

Lee's  Ease  of  Manner   253 


CONTENTS. 

Lee  and  his  Host  Page  254 

Lee  letting  a  Fellow  "  Go  for  Slippance  "   254 

Lee  "Waking  up  a  Congregation   255 

Lee's  Fitness  for  the  Episcopacy   255 

Lee  and  other  Weighty  Preachers   25G 

Lee's  Pleasant  Retort  upon  Bishop  Asbury   256 

Lee's  Retort  upon  the  Congressmen   257 

Lee  and  the  Coloured  Preacher   258 

Lee  Turning  the  World  Upside  Down   259 

Lee  and  the  Gentleman  who  was  standing  in  his  Own  Light  2 GO 

Lee  Cracking  a  Bone   260 

Lee  and  the  Angry  General   2GI 

Lee  a  Captain   2G4 

Lee  and  the  Dogs   2G5 

Lee  and  the  Baptist  Woman   266 

Lee's  Last  Sermon   266 

THE  REV.  SAMUEL  BRADBURN   269 

Bradburn  and  the  Poet   271 

Bradburn  and  the  Gown   271 

Bradburn  and  Dr.  Adam  Clarke   272 

Bradburn  and  Robert  Robinson   273 

Bradburn  and  Dawson   275 

Bradburn's  Poetry   275 

Bradburn  and  an  Opposing  Clergyman   276 

Bradburn  and  Betty  the  Servant  Girl   278 

Bradburn  and  Benson   279 

Bradburn  and  Samuel  Bardsley   280 

Bradburn's  Retort  on  Wesley     281 

Bradburn  and  the  Young  Ministers   281 

Bradburn  and  the  Drunkard   282 

Bradburn  and  Sammy  Hick   283 

THE  REV.  SYLVESTER  HUTCHINSON   287 

Hutchinson  and  the  Trifling  Young  Women   289 

Hutchinson  and  the  Traveller   290 

Hutchinson,  the  Lost  Presiding  Elder   291 

THE  REV.  DARIUS  DUNHAM   295 

Dunham  and  Elijah  Woolsey   296 

Toils  of  the  Pioneers   297 

Scolding  Dunham   301 

Dunham's  inexplicable  Groan   301 

Dunham  and  the  Wild  Fire   303 

Dunham  rebukes  Levity   304 

Dunham  and  the  Squire   305 

Dunham  and  the  Infidel   305 

Dunham  and  the  Amen   306 

Dunham  and  the  Woman  possessed  with  the  Devil   306 

THE  REV.  SMITH  ARNOLD   309 

Hears  Methodist  Preaching   309 


8  CONTENTS. 

Life  in  the  Woods  Page  310 

A  Warning   312 

A  Class  Formed   315 

A  Change   316 

His  Theological  Course   317 

Licensed  to  Exhort   318 

Official  Responsibilities   318 

The  Seeley  Family   319 

Call  to  Preach   321- 

Amold  and  the  Rev.  William  Keith   325 

Great  Revival   32G 

The  Itinerant  Field   329 

How  Mr,  Arnold  failed  of  a  Whipping   329 

Sickness   330 

Albany  Circuit   331 

Arnold  and  Tobias  Spicer   332 

His  End,  or  the  Closing  Scene   333 

THE  REV.  SAMUEL  HAMILTON   337 

Hamilton  and  the  Infidel   338 

Hamilton's  Gravity  overcome   339 

THE  REV.  ARCHIBALD  M'lLROY   345 

M'llroy  as  a  Preacher   346 

M'llroy  on  the  General  Rules   347 

M'llroy  and  the  Drunkard   348 

M'llroy  and  the  Dutchman   348 

M'llroy's  Sermon  on  the  Swine    350 

M'llroy  and  the  Dancing-Master   351 

M'Hroy  and  the  Calvinistic  Minister   352 

THE  REV.  WILLIAM  DAWSON   355 

Dawson's  "  Railway  Speech  "   361 

Dawson  in  Bristol   362 

Dawson  correcting  Dr.  Young   302 

Dawson  Stopping  the  Choir   363 

Dawson's  Coal-Pit  Illustrations   363 

Dawson's  Bold  Flights   365 

Dawson  Correcting  Dr.  Watts   366 

Dawson's  Response  to  Andrew  Fuller   367 

Dawson  and  the  Pedler   367 

Dawson  and  the  Critic     309 

Dawson  and  the  Backslider   309 

Dawson  and  the  Gentleman   370 

Dawson's  Power  in  Preaching   371 

Dawson  Silencing  a  Fault-Findcr     373 

Dawson  Ending  a  Theological  Dispute   373 

Dawson  on  the  Farthing  Candle   374 

Dawson  and  the  Colt   375 

Dawson  and  John  Angell  James   376 

Dawson  on  Methodist  Clerks   377 

Dawson  Next  to  Nobody    377 


CONTENTS.  9 

Dawson's  Lock  of  Strength  Page  378 

Dawson  and  the  Jack  Tar   378 

Dawson  and  the  Solemn  Trifler   379 

Dawson  and  the  Editor   380 

Dawson  on  "Reading  a  Speech"   380 

THE  REV.  JOHN  COLUNS   383 

Collins  and  the  Quaker   384: 

Collins  Laying  Down  his  Commission   386 

Collins's  Remarkable  Dream   386 

CoUins's  First  Sermon    386 

Collins's  Sermon  in  Cincinnati   387 

Collins  and  the  Calvinistic  Woman   388 

Collins  and  the  Drunkard   389 

Collins  and  the  Country  Funeral   389 

Collins  and  J.  B.  Finley    390 

Collins  and  the  Bank  Note   390 

THE  REV.  THEOPHILUS  LESSEY   395 

Mr.  Lessey  as  a  Preacher  and  Platform  Speaker   398 

Lessey  and  Dawson   399 

Lessey  and  the  Infidels   400 

Lessey  and  the  Country  Preacher   400 

Lessey 's  Punctuality   401 

Lessey  on  Popery   401 

Lessey  and  Old  James  ..    402 

Lessey  and  the  Drunkard   403 

THE  REV.  JACOB  GRUBER    407 

Gruber's  Conversion  and  Entrance  upon  the  Work  of  the  Min- 
istry  419 

Gruber's  Account  of  his  First  Ten  Years  in  the  Itinerant 

Ministry   421 

Gruber's  Personal  Habits   422 

Gruber  and  the  Veil   423 

Gruber's  Power  in  Prayer   423 

Gruber  and  the  Devil's  Firebi'and   424 

Gruber's  Possessions   424 

Gruber  on  Extraordinary  Manifestations   424 

Gruber  Lost  among  the  Mountains   425 

Gruber's  Reproof  of  Parental  Indulgence   427 

Gruber  and  Father  Richards   428 

Gruber  and  the  Quaker   430 

Gruber  and  the  Irishwoman   432 

Gruber  and  Two  Rich  Methodists   433 

Gruber  on  Gayety  among  Methodists   435 

Gruber  on  Methodist  Ministers  using  Tobacco    436 

Gruber  and  the  Man  in  a  Cold  Winter  State   436 

Gruber's  Description  of  Camp-meeting  Scenes    437 

The  Conversion  of  a  Man  with  a  Pistol    437 

The  Conversion  of  a  Major   438 

Camp-meeting  Held  all  Night   439 


CONTENTS. 


A  singular  Local  Preacher  Page  439 

Gruber's  Dislike  for  Ministerial  Canes   441 

Gruber  Settling  a  Family  Quarrel   441 

Gruber  and  the  Young  Lawyer   442 

Gruber  Refuting  a  Proverb   443 

Gruber  and  the  Quaker   443 

Gruber's  Prayer  for  King  George — His  Views  of  the  Horrors 

of  War'   445 

Gruber's  Prayer  for  a  Minister    44 (i 

Gruber's  Horse  Immersed   447 

Gruber's  Sermon  at  St.  George's,  Philadelphia    447 

Gruber  and  the  Young  Preacher   449 

Gruber  and  his  Hostess   450 

Gruber  and  the  Dandy  Preacher   450 

Gruber  Catching  a  Tadpole   452 

Gruber  seating  the  People  at  Camp-meetings    452 

Gruber  requested  to  Preach  "  Nice  and  Fine  "    453 

Gruber  did  not  Love  to  Steal    454 

Gruber  misquoting  a  Text   455 

Gruber  and  his  Left-handed  Friends    455 

Gruber's  Rebuke  of  Vanity  in  a  Y''oung  Preacher   450 

Gruber  and  the  Reformers   457 

Gruber's  Temperance  Lecture   459 

Gruber  and  John  English   460 

Gruber's  Description  of  "  Feeble  Christians  "   462 

Gruber's  Convert   462 

Gruber  on  Borrowed  Phrases   462 

Gruber  and  the  "Long  Short  Dresses"   463 

Gruber  attending  to  the  Eleventh  Commandment   464 

Gruber's  Last  Interview  with  Bishop  Asbury   465 

Gruber  on  High  Heads  and  Enormous  Bonnets   465 

Gruber's  Account  of  his  Circuit  when  in  his  Seventieth  Year  466 

Gruber  not  Afraid  to  go  Home    467 

Lines  in  Memory  of  the  Rev.  Jacob  Gruber   468 


mi.  FEAICIS  ASBUM. 


THE 

HEEOES  OF  METHODISM. 


FRANCIS  ASBURY. 

Though  Francis  Asbury  has  slept  in  the  grave  nearly 
forty  years,  the  life  of  this  primitive  bishop  has  not  been 
written.  Notwithstanding  this,  his  great  name  and  his  noble 
deeds  are  embalmed  in  the  hearts  of  grateful  thousands  who 
"rise  up  and  call  him  blessed."  The  bishop  gave  formal 
direction  to  the  Rev.  Henry  Boehm,  his  travelling  companion 
for  five  years,  and  one  of  the  executors  of  his  last  will  and 
testament,  that  his  life  should  not  be  written,  and  wished 
him  to  use  his  influence  to  prevent  it.  It  is  singular  that, 
although  many  have  attempted  it,  none  have  succeeded. 
It  would  seem  that  the  bishop's  request  is  to  be  complied 
with  to  the  very  letter. 

I  never  had  the  pleasure  of  seeing  Bishop  Asbury — when 
he  died  I  was  seven  years  of  age.  But  with  his  last  sur- 
viving travelling  companion,  the  venerable  Henry  Boehm,  just 
mentioned,  who  is  now  eighty  years  old,  I  have  spent  weeks 
in  reading  the  journal  he  kept  of  their  labours  and  journey- 
ings,  and  in  writing,  as  he  dictated,  an  account  of  the  scenes 
in  which  they  were  such  prominent  actors  many  years  ago. 
I  have  tr-^v^'ilf^d  wi^.h  them,  in  imaginatibn,  fchi^ir  annual  round 
from  one  conference  to  another,  fr(5rh  the  'cold  north  to  the 
sunny  south — from  the  rock-bound  coast  of  New-England  to 


H  THE  HEROES  OF  METHODISM. 

the  Mississippi,  the  father  of  waters.  I  have  climbed  with 
them  the  Green  Mountains,  the  Catskill,  and  the  Alle- 
ghanies.  I  have  crossed  -with  them  the  rivers  east,  west, 
north,  and  south.  I  have  put  up  with  them  in  the  log- 
house  and  in  the  mansion,  till  it  appears  as  if  I  had  seen 
Bishop  Asbury,  heard  him  *'  say  grace  at  the  table,"  offer 
up  "family  prayer,"  heard  him  preach,  seen  him  ordain, 
been  in  his  cabinet,  and  beheld  him  station  the  preachei-s, 
so  graphic  and  so  life-like  are  the  descriptions  of  the  bishop 
of  his  preaching,  and  of  the  scenes  through  which  they 
passed  together,  which  father  Boehm  has  given  me. 

Francis  Asbury  was  born  in  the  county  of  Staffordshire, 
England,  on  the  2d  of  August,  1745.  His  parents,  Joseph 
and  Elizabeth  Asbury,  were  in  humble  circumstances,  deeply 
pious,  and  consistent  Methodists.  They  had  a  daughter, 
Sarah,  who  found  an  early  grave,  an  early  heaven ;  and  this 
was  the  means  of  leading  Francis 

"  To  give  liis  wanderings  o'er 
By  giving  Christ  his  heart." 

How  oft  there  is  much  mercy  mingled  in  the  cup  of  sorrow  ! 
Francis  being  an  only  son,  and  the  only  remaining  child,  all 
the  hopes  of  his  parents  centred  in  him.  He  united  with  the 
class  in  1763,  began  to  preach  when  he  was  sixteen  years 
old,  and  was  twenty-one  when  he  entered  the  travelling  con- 
nexion. He  bade  adieu  to  his  parents  and  the  land  of  his 
birth,  and  came  to  this  new  world  and  landed  in  Philadelphia 
on  the  27th  of  October,  1771.  He  immediately  entered 
upon  his  work.  He  began  to  itinerate  at  once,  and  con- 
tinued to  do  so  till  the 

"  Weary  wheels  of  life  stood  stilL" 

He  was  elected  and  ordained  superintendent  or  bishop  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  at  the  Christmas  conference 
held  in  Baltimore,  178-^.  After  perform'ng  hv  i/ic-cdible 
amount  of  labour,  acd  anduriug  many  privations  and  hard- 
ships, travelling  thousands  of  miles  every  year,  he  died  in 


J<'KANCIS  ASBURY. 


15 


holy  triumph,  on  the  31st  of  March,  1816.  llis  faithful 
travelling  companion,  Rev.  John  W.  Bond,  cheered  him  as 
he  was  passing  the  valley  of  the  shadow  of  death,  and  com- 
mended his  departing  spirit  to  Him  who  is  the  "Resur- 
rection and  the  Life." 

It  was  well  the  bishop  had  such  a  travelling  companion  as 
brother  Bond.  What  a  staff  on  which  the  venerable  feeble 
old  man  could  lean !  what  a  protector  in  the  hour  of  danger ! 
what  a  support  in  the  hour  of  weakness !  Happy  privilege 
for  the  old  Methodist  patriarch  to  be  thus  comforted  in  the 
evening  of  life !  Happy  privilege,  too,  for  brother  Bond  to  be 
with  the  dying  Asbury  as  his  sun  was  descending  low,  and  to 
see  the  "  twilight  of  his  evening  melt  away  into  the  twilight 
of  the  morning  of  an  eternal  day !"  He  accompanied  the 
bishop  down  to  Jordan's  cold  flood,  comforted  him  as  the 
earthly  house  of  his  tabernacle  was  dissolving,  supporting  his 
languishing  head  till  his  throbbing  temples  ceased  to  beat,  and 
angels  whispered 

Sister  spirit,  come  away." 

Bishop  Asbury,  though  dead,  yet  lives,  not  only  in  the 
memory  and  affections  of  grateful  thousands,  but  in  a  higher 
and  loftier  sense,  "in  the  upper,  and  better,  and  brighter 
world,  of  which  the  stars  and  the  sunlight  are  the  faint  and 
the  distant  emblems."  "They  that  be  wise  shall  shine  as 
the  brightness  of  the  firmament;  and  they  that  have  turned 
many  to  righteousness,  as  the  stars  forever  and  ever." 

The  following  beautiful  tribute  to  Asbury  is  from  a  sermon, 
preached  by  the  Rev.  John  Scott,  president  of  the  British 
Conference,  on  the  first  Sabbath  in  August,  1852,  "showing 
that  Methodism  has  sought  to  reproduce  the  moral  trans- 
formations of  apostolic  times,  and  has  succeeded :" — 

"  There  is  no  man  whose  character  and  career  will  furnish 
a  more  striking  illustration  of  our  position  than  that  of  Fran- 
cis Asbury :  and  yet  we  look  in  vain  for  any  acknowledgment 
of  the  services  he  performed — services  equally  laborious,  and 


16 


TUE  HEROES  OF  METHODISM. 


of  vastly  greater  importance  than  any  military  or  political 
leader — or  even  the  mention  of  his  name  by  any  popular  his- 
torian of  the  United  States.  But  the  time  will  come  when 
posterity  will  acknowledge  its  indebtedness  to  him,  and  jus- 
tice be  done  to  his  memory. 

"  Asbury  seems  to  have  been  specially  fitted  by  the  hand 
of  Providence  for  the  work  assigned  him  in  this  new  country. 
He  was  not  what  is  called  a  genius,  but  he  possessed  qualifi- 
cations far  superior  to  this.  Though  he  had  none  of  that 
splendour  of  intellect  which  would  dazzle  or  be  supremely 
attractive,  yet  he  had  those  peculiar  dispositions — that  mor- 
ally sublime  motive,  connected  with  that  indomitable  perse- 
verance which  ever  prevented  him  from  being  discouraged, 
and  would  have  made  him  great  in  any  sphere  of  action.  In 
the  whole  history  of  the  Church  of  Christ  we  could  find  no 
better  model  of  a  Christian  bishop  than  the  noble  man  to 
whom  we  now  refer.  Impelled  by  a  zeal  which  was  the  '  pure 
flame  of  love '  to  leave  his  own  country  and  friends,  know- 
ingly to  encounter  perils  both  by  sea  and  land,  and  if  these 
were  escaped,  to  endure  privations  and  hardships  which  would 
have  sunk  at  once  a  common  spirit,  for  forty  and  five  years 
he  did  not  cease  to  thread  the  mazes  of  the  American  wilder- 
ness— now  finding  a  resting  place  for  a  night  in  the  log-cabin, 
of  the  new  settler,  and  then  beneath  the  '  leaves  of  the  green- 
wood bower.' 

"  His  labours  were  not  confined  to  the  Atlantic  cities  or  older 
settlements  of  the  new  continent,  where  he  would  have  met 
with  those  comforts  he  had  enjoyed  at  the  parental  home  in 
the  land  of  his  birth ;  but  there  was  no  part  of  the  work 
which  did  not  equally  claim  his  personal  superintendence. 
He  was  '  in  labours  more  abundant '  than  even  Wesley  him- 
self. How  much  Methodism  on  the  continent  of  North 
America  is  indebted  to  him  we  cannot  now  determine.  We 
may  in  some  degree  know  and  feel  how  cheering  the  success 
was,  as  to  the  result  of  those  labours,  when  we  reflect  that  on 
his  arrival  there  were  only  six  hundred  members ;  but  ere  he 


FRANCIS  ASBURY. 


IT 


ceased  to  labour  there  were  no  less  than  two  hundred  and 
twelve  thousand  enjoying  the  blessings  of  Christian  fellow- 
ship. The  name  of  Asbury  must  ever  be  remembered  with 
peculiar  delight,  whenever  we  refer  to  the  history  of  Method- 
ism on  this  continent.  Doubtless  before  this  many  among 
the  blood- washed  throng  have  recognised  him  as  the  instru- 
ment of  their  conversion,  when  they  have  met  before  our 
heavenly  Father's  throne." 

Bishop  Asbury  is  thus  estimated  by  Rev.  Thomas  Ware : 
"  Among  the  early  pioneers  of  Methodism,  by  common  con- 
sent Asbury  stood  first  and  chief.  There  was  something  in 
his  person,  his  eye,  his  mien,  and  in  the  music  of  his  voice, 
which  interested  all  who  saw  and  heard  him.  He  possessed 
much  natural  wit,  and  was  capable  of  the  severest  satire ;  but 
grace  and  good  sense  so  far  predominated  that  he  never  de- 
scended to  anything  beneath  the  dignity  of  a  man  and  a 
Christian  minister.  In  prayer  he  excelled.  Had  he  been 
equally  eloquent  in  preaching,  he  would  have  excited  universal 
admiration  as  a  pulpit  orator.  But,  when  he  was  heard  for 
the  first  time,  the  power  and  unction  with  which  he  prayed 
would  naturally  so  raise  the  expectation  of  his  auditors  that 
they  were  liable  to  be  disappointed  with  his  preaching ;  for, 
although  he  always  preached  well,  in  his  sermons  he  seldom, 
if  ever,  reached  that  high  and  comprehensive  flow  of  thought 
and  expression — that  expansive  and  appropriate  diction — 
which  always  characterized  his  prayers.  This  may  be  ac- 
counted for,  in  part  at  least,  from  the  fact  stated  by  the  late 
Rev.  Freeborn  Garrettson  in  preaching  his  funeral  sermon : 
'  He  prayed  the  best,  and  he  prayed  the  most  of  any  man  I 
ever  knew.  His  long-continued  rides  prevented  his  preach- 
ing as  often  as  some  others;  but  he  could  find  a  throne  of 
grace,  if  not  a  congregation,  upon  the  road.' " 

The  following  portraiture  of  Bishop  Asbury  was  sketched 
and  drawn  by  the  masterly  hand  of  the  Rev.  Joshua  Mars- 
den,  and  no  doubt  it  is  a  correct  picture  of  the  old  Christian 
hero,  as  he  appeared  many  years  since.    It  is  no  fancy  sketch 


18 


THE  HEROES  OF  3IETH0D1SM. 


— no  picture  of  tlie  imagination — but  a  true  copy  of  the 
original.  Mr.  Marsden  was  in  this  country  two  years  during 
the  war  of  1812.  "When  he  returned  to  England  he  wrote 
this  sketch  of  Asbury,  and  the  reader  will  no  doubt  peruse 
it  with  pleasure.  It  is  taken  from  the  notes  to  a  poem, 
entitled  "  The  Conference ;  or,  Sketches  of  Wesleyan  Method- 
ism," published  in  London  in  1815  : — 

"  Bishop  Asbury  was  one  of  those  very  few  men  whom 
nature  forms  in  no  ordinary  mould.  Although  possessed  of 
httle  literature,  his  mind  was  stamped  with  a  certain  great- 
ness and  originahty  which  lifted  him  far  above  the  merely 
learned  man,  and  fitted  him  to  be  great  without  science,  and 
venerable  without  titles.  His  knowledge  of  men  was  profound 
and  penetrating ;  hence,  he  looked  into  characters  as  one  looks 
into  a  clear  stream  in  order  to  discover  the  bottom :  yet  he 
did  not  use  this  penetration  to  compass  any  unworthy  pur- 
poses ;  the  policy  of  knowing  men,  in  order  to  make  the  most 
of  them,  was  a  littleness  to  which  he  never  stooped.  He  had 
only  one  end  in  view,  and  that  was  worthy  the  dignity  of  an 
angel ;  from  this  nothing  ever  warped  him  aside.  He  seemed 
conscious  that  God  had  designed  him  for  a  great  work,  and 
nothing  was  wanting  on  his  part  to  fulfil  the  intention  of  Prov- 
idence. The  niche  was  cut  in  the  great  temple  of  usefulness, 
and  he  stretched  himself  to  fill  it  up  in  all  its  dimensions. 
To  him,  the  widest  career  of  labour  and  duty  presented  no 
obstacle.  Like  a  moral  Caesar,  he  thought  nothing  done 
while  anything  remained  to  do.  His  penetrating  eye  meas- 
ured the  ground  over  which  he  intended  to  sow  the  seeds  of 
eternal  life,  while  his  courageous  and  active  mind  cheerfully 
embraced  all  the  difficulties  grafted  upon  his  labours.  He 
worshipped  no  God  of  the  name  of  Terminus,  but  stretched 
his  '  hne  of  things'  far  beyond  the  bounds  of  ordinary  minds. 
An  annual  journey  of  six  thousand  miles,  through  a  wilder-^ 
ness  country,  (the  best  roads  of  which  require  patience  and 
caution,  and  the  worst  set  description  at  defiance,)  would 
have  sunk  a  feebler  mind  into  despondency;  but  neither 


FRANCIS  ASBURT. 


19 


roads,  weather,  nor  accommodations  retarded  liis  progress, 
nor  once  moved  bim  from  the  Hne  of  duty.  He  pursued  the 
most  difficult  and  laborious  course  as  most  men  do  their 
pleasures ;  and  although  for  many  years  he  was  enfeebled  by 
sickness,  and  worn  with  age  and  infirmity,  two  hundred  thou- 
sand persons  saw  with  astonishment  the  hoary  veteran  still 
*  standing  in  his  lot,'  or  *  pressing  along  his  vast  line '  of  duty 
with  undiminished  zeal. 

"  He  knew  nothing  about  pleasing  the  flesh  at  the  expense 
of  duty  ;  flesh  and  blood  were  enemies  with  whom  he  never 
took  counsel :  he  took  a  high  standing  upon  the  rugged  Alps 
of  labour,  and  to  all  that  lagged  behind  he  said,  '  Come  up 
hither.'  He  was  a  rigid  enemy  to  ease — hence  the  pleasures 
of  study  and  the  charms  of  recreation  he  alike  sacrificed  to 
the  more  sublime  work  of  saving  souls.  His  faith  was  a  con- 
stant '  evidence  of  things  not  seen,'  for  he  lived  as  a  man 
totally  blind  to  all  worldly  attractions. 

"  He  had  his  stated  hours  of  retirement  and  prayer,  upon 
which  he  let  neither  business  nor  company  break  in.  Prayer 
was  the  seasoning  of  all  his  avocations :  he  never  sufi*ered  the 
cloth  to  be  removed  from  the  table  until  he  had  kneeled 
down  to  address  the  Almighty ;  it  was  the  preface  to  all  busi- 
ness, and  often  the  link  that  connected  opposite  duties,  and 
the  conclusion  of  whatever  he  took  in  hand.  Divine  wisdom 
seemed  to  direct  all  his  undertakings,  for  he  sought  its  coun- 
sel upon  all  occasions ;  no  part  of  his  conduct  was  the  result 
of  accident;  the  plan  by  which  he  transacted  all  his  affairs 
was  as  regular  as  the  movements  of  a  timepiece;  hence  he 
had  no  idle  moments,  no  fragments  of  time  broken  and  scat- 
tered up  and  down  ;  no  cause  to  say  with  Titus,  '  My  friends, 
I  have  lost  a  day.'  Pleading  with  God  in  secret,  settling  the 
various  aff"airs  of  the  body  over  which  he  presided,  or  speak- 
ing,'to  men  for  their  edification'  in  the  pulpit,  occupied  all 
his  time. 

"As  a  preacher,  although  not  an  orator,  he  was  dignified 
eloquent,  and  impressive.    His  sermons  were  the  result  of 

2 


20 


THE  HEROES  OF  METHODISM. 


good  sense  and  sound  wisdom,  delivered  with  great  authority 
and  gravity,  and  often  attended  with  a  divine  unction  which 
made  them  refreshing  as  the  dew  of  heaven.  One  of  the  last 
subjects  I  heard  him  preach  upon  was  union  and  brotherly 
love ;  it  was  the  greatest  I  ever  recollect  to  have  heard  upon 
that  subject. 

"  His  chief  excellence,  however,  lay  in  governing.  For 
this,  perhaps,  no  man  was  better  qualified.  He  presided  with 
dignity,  moderation,  and  firmness,  over  a  large  body  of  men, 
all  of  whom  are  as  tenacious  of  liberty  and  equal  rights  as 
most  men  in  the  world ;  and  yet  each  submitted  to  an  au- 
thority that  grew  out  of  his  labours — an  authority  founded 
upon  reason,  maintained  with  inflexible  integrity,  and  exer- 
cised only  for  the  good  of  the  whole.  A  man  of  less  energy 
would  have  given  up  the  reins ;  and  one  of  less  wisdom,  pru 
dence,  and  moderation  would  have  committed  the  same  error 
as  Phreton,  and  the  whole  system  would  have  been  con- 
fused and  distracted :  but  Mr.  Asbury  managed  the  vast 
economy  with  singular  ability ;  his  eye  was  keen,  his 
hand  was  steady,  and  liis  'moderation  was  known  to  all 
men.' 

"  In  his  appearance  he  was  a  picture  of  plainness  and  sim- 
plicity, bordering  upon  the  costume  of  the  Friends.  The 
reader  may  figure  to  himself  an  old  man,  spare  and  tall,  but 
remarkably  clean,  with  a  plain  frock  coat,  drab  or  mixture, 
waistcoat  and  small-clothes  of  the  same  kind,  a  neat  stock,  a 
large  broad-brimmed  hat,  with  an  uncommonly  low  crown ; 
while  his  w^hite  locks,  venerable  with  age,  added  to  his  ap- 
pearance a  simplicity  it  is  not  easy  to  describe.  His  counte- 
nance had  a  cast  of  severity ;  but  this  was  probably  owing 
to  his  habitual  gra\ity  and  seriousness.  His  look  was  re- 
markably penetrating ;  in  a  word,  I  never  recollect  to  have 
seen  a  man  of  a  more  grave,  venerable,  and  dignified  ap- 
pearance." 

Bishop  Asbury  was  distinguished  for  his  moral  heroism. 
He  was  a  man  of  heroic  courage,  heroic  fortitude,  and  heroic 


FEANCIS  ASBURY 


21 


deeds.  There  was  much  of  Christian  chivalry  about  him. 
He  was  "  vahant  for  the  truth  " — 

♦*  Bold  to  take  up,  firm  to  sustain 
The  consecrated  cross/' 

"  God  had  not  given  him  the  spirit  of  fear,  but  of  power, 
and  of  love,  and  of  a  sound  mind."  He  was  the  Joshua  of 
our  Methodist  Israel,  leading  them  on  to  glory  and  to 
triumph. 


BISHOP  ASBURY'S  MANNER. 

Rev.  Abner  Chase,  in  his  "Recollections  of  the  Past,"  a 
little  work  full  of  historic  incident,  gives  us  the  following  de- 
scription of  Bishop  Asbury  as  a  man  and  as  a  superintend- 
ent:— "He  was  certainly,  in  several  respects,  a  very  extra- 
ordinary man ;  and  had  I  the  ability  to  do  so,  I  would  with 
pleasure  delineate  his  character,  and  the  more  readily  as  I 
think  too  little  has  been  said  and  written  of  the  zeal,  labours, 
and  sufferings  of  this  apostolic  man.  He  commanded  a 
respect  and  veneration  which  no  superintendent  of  our 
Church  at  the  present  day  can  reasonably  expect  to  receive ; 
for  though  our  present  bishops  may  be  worthy  of  honour, 
and,  perhaps,  '  double  honour,'  as  '  ruling  well,'  yet  they  are 
but  brethren,  while  Asbury  had  a  claim  to  the  title  and  rela- 
tion of  father,  which  no  other  man  in  our  Church  had  or  can 
have.  I  do  not  mean  to  say  that  he  stood  upon  or  urged 
this  claim,  but  that  it  was  voluntarily  rendered  to  him  by 
most  of  those  who  were  capable  of  discerning  his  character." 
The  Rev.  Dr.  Bond  was  well  acquainted  with  Bishop 


22 


THE  HEROES  OF  METHODISM. 


Asbury,  and  has  given  me  many  graphic  accounts  of  hji 
person  and  manners.  He  said  there  never  was  a  person  on 
earth  he  was  so  afraid  of  as  the  bishop.  There  was  an  air 
of  sternness  about  him  that  forbade  any  one  approaching  too 
near.  His  brother,  John  W.  Bond,  the  traveUing  companion 
of  Asbury,  generally  rode  behind  the  bishop  a  short  dis- 
tance. There  was  no  approaching  him  with  any  degree 
of  familiarity  until  he  was  in  a  certain  frame  of  mind. 
You  must  wait  his  time ;  but  when  he  was  in  the  humour, 
you  could  approach  him  with  perfect  ease,  and  there  would 
be  with  him  the  utmost  simplicity  and  familiarity.  He 
could  be  one  of  the  most  communicative  of  men,  and  for 
hours  would  entertain  you  with  pleasing  and  amusing 
anecdotes. 

The  bishop  would  appear  often  to  be  lost  in  thought  as 
he  was  riding  along.  He  was  either  studying  his  sermons, 
or  planning  the  work  in  his  vast  field  of  labour.  At  such 
times  there  was  nothing  to  be  said  to  him.  All  at  once  his 
countenance  and  manner  would  change.  He  would  beckon 
or  call  his  friend  to  come  up  and  ride  beside  him,  and  enter 
into  the  most  free  and  familiar  conversation. 

Father  Boehm  gives  a  similar  account  of  the  bishop's 
manner. 

BISHOP  ASBURY  COULD  READ  MEN". 

Dr.  Bond  says,  "  There  was  not  only  a  sternness  of  manner 
that  would  forbid  a  person's  approaching  him  with  too  much 
freedom,  but  he  appeared  when  he  looked  at  you,  when  he 
lowered  his  dark,  heavy  eyebrows,  as  if  he  could  read  you 
— as  if  he  understood  your  thoughts,  and  the  motives  that 
prompted  you  to  action — as  if  you  were  transparent,  and  he 
could  look  through  you ;  or  as  if  you  had  a  window  in 
your  bosom,  and  he  could  see  what  was  there.  Bishop 
Asbury  had  the  best  knowledge  of  men  of  any  person  I 
ever  knew. 


FRANCIS  ASBURY. 


23 


"When  the  bishop  made  an  appointment,  it  remained 
unalterable.  The  preachers  and  people  understood  that 
what  was  done  was  done.  The  bishop  generally,  at  the  close 
of  a  conference,  had  his  horse  at  the  door,  and  the  moment 
he  had  read  the  appointments  and  pronounced  the  benedic- 
tion he  mounted  his  beast  and  left  immediately,  not  inform- 
ijig  them  where  he  was  going.  In  this  way  he  avoided 
importunity.  As  he  could  not  be  found,  none  could  urge 
him  to  change  their  appointments." 

Bishop  Waugh  has  told  me  that  "it  was  true  Bishop 
Asbury  was  a  great  observer  of  men — he  read  them." 
Mr.  Waugh  being  secretary  to  the  Baltimore  Conference, 
sat  near  the  bishop,  and  observed  his  habits.  During  con- 
ference he  sat  with  his  eyes  nearly  closed,  and  persons 
would  suppose  he  was  not  observing  what  was  going 
on ;  but  all  the  time  he  was  studying  character — reading 
men.  The  bishop  once  spoke  to  Mr.  Waugh  of  a  certain 
man  in  the  conference  who  was  so  young  in  the  ministry 
Mr.  Waugh  supposed  the  bishop  had  not  noticed  him.  Said 
he,  "  Brother  J.  H.  never  speaks  in  conference,  but  I  think 
no  less  of  him  for  that.'''' 

Mr.  Waugh  said  the  bishop  would  write  down  on  the 
margin  of  the  minutes  the  character  given  to  each  preacher 
by  his  presiding  elder,  that  he  might  have  a  correct  knowl- 
edge of  their  talents,  so  that  when  he  came  to  station  them 
he  would  know  where  to  place  them. 

BISHOP  ASBURY  AS  A  PREACHER. 

Dr.  Bond  informs  me  that  he  often  heard  the  bishop  preach. 
His  sermons  were  not  in  general  logically  arranged,  but 
more  in  the  form  of  an  exhortation.  But  when  the  bishop 
was  roused,  and  warmed  with  his  subject,  he  was  sublime ; 
moving  and  melting  all  who  heard  him.  On  such  occa- 
sions he  was  a  thunderstorm,  a  tornado,  carrying  every- 
thing before  him.    However,  this  was  only  occasionally. 


24 


THE  HEROES  OF  METHODISM. 


The  doctor  heard  him  preach  before  the  Baltimore  Con- 
ference many  years  ago,  and  after  the  bishop  had  con- 
cluded his  sermon,  he  said  to  the  Rev.  Joshua  Wells, 
"What  was  the  bishop  at?  I  could  not  understand 
him."  With  a  significant  look,  Mr.  Wells  replied,  "  We 
understood  himy  The  sermon  was  exclusively  to  preachers, 
in  reference  to  the  important  duties  of  their  sacred  office* 
The  bishop  designed  to  be  understood,  and  the  preachers 
did  understand  him. 

Rev.  Henry  Boehm  said  to  me,  "I  have  heard  Bishop 
Asbury  preach  more  than  five  hundred  times,  and  never 
heard  him  without  pleasure  and  profit.  There  was  no  tedious 
sameness,  but  a  freshness  and  a  variety  in  his  sermons.  He 
was  not  always  methodical  in  his  arrangements ;  he  never 
named  his  division ;  he  did  not  write  his  sermons,  nor  any 
part  of  them  in  his  latter  days;  but  he  was  a  very  able 
divine ;  his  sermons  were  grave,  and  clear,  and  deep.  In 
family  lectures  he  excelled. 

FRAKCIS  AXD  HIS  MOTHER. 

I  give  the  following  in  Bishop  Asbury's  own  words ; — 
"My  mother  used  to  take  me  with  her  to  a  female 
meeting,  which  she  conducted  once  a  fortnight,  for  the 
purpose  of  reading  the  Scriptures,  and  giving  out 
hymns.  After  I  had  been  thus  employed  as  a  clerk  for 
some  time,  the  good  sisters  thought  Frank  might  venture  a 
word  of  exhortation.  So,  after  reading,  I  would  venture  to 
expound  and  paraphrase  a  little  on  the  portion  read.  Thus 
began  my  Gospel  efi'orts,  when  a  lad  of  sixteen  or  seventeen  ; 
and  now  I  would  rather  have  a  section  or  chapter  for  a  text 
than  a  single  verse,  or  part  of  a  verse.  When  the  society 
called  me  forth  from  obscurity  my  performance  in  public  sur- 
passed all  expectation.  But  they  knew  not  that  the  stripling 
had  been  exercising  his  gifts  in  his  mother's  female  prayer- 
meeting." 


FRANCIS  ASBUKY. 


BISHOP  ASBURY'S  MANNER  OF  READING  THE  BIBLE. 

"  I  have  thought  that  the  good  bishop  was  the  best  reader 
of  the  Holy  Bible  I  ever  heard.  His  voice  was  a  deep-toned 
bass,  without  a  jar.  It  appeared  to  me  that  he  laid  the 
accent  on  every  word,  and  the  emphasis  on  every  sentence, 
just  where  the  Holy  Spirit  intended  they  should  be.  I 
once  saw  him  call  up  a  class  of  the  senior  preachers  in  con- 
ference, like  a  class  in  school,  and  give  them  a  chapter  to 
read  in  course.  (One  of  them  told  me  afterward  that  he 
would  rather  have  been  called  on  to  preach  before  five 
thousand  people.)  He  said  it  was  a  shame,  if  not  a  sin,  for 
a  minister  to  read  the  Scriptures  in  a  kind  of  whisper,  or 
dull,  monotonous  tone,  either  in  families  or  congregations." 
— James  Quinn, 

BISHOP   ASBURY'S  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

In  preaching,  Mr.  Asbury  followed  the  example  of  the  great 
Teacher,  who  used  the  most  familiar  things  with  which  to 
make  his  subjects  plain.  Jesus  illustrated  his  subjects  by 
"the  supper,"  "the  net,"  "the  tree,"  "the  hen,"  "the  lily," 
"  the  hair,"  "  the  seed,"  "  the  sparrow."  This  was  one  rea- 
son the  "  common  people  heard  him  gladly :"  they  could 
understand  him. 

Mr.  Asbury  pursued  the  same  course,  and  so  will  any 
"  well-instructed  scribe."  Dr.  Thomas  Bond  informs  me 
that  he  heard  Bishop  Asbury  preach  in  Baltimore  in  1808  on 
brotherly  love.  He  quoted  this :  "  Brethren,  be  not  children 
in  understanding:  howbeit,  in  malice  be  ye  children,  but  in 
understanding  be  men."  He  illustrated  it  in  the  most 
simple  manner.  Said  he,  "Brethren,  recently  I  have  been 
at  the  West,  and  where  I  have  put  up  I  have  noticed  many 
children.  I  have  seen  them  sit  down  and  eat  bread  and 
milk,  or  pudding  and  milk,  out  of  the  same  dish,  with  difterent 


26 


THE  HEROES  OF  METHODISM. 


spoons ;  sometimes  they  would  differ  a  little ;  one  would  be 
afraid  the  other  would  eat  the  fastest  and  get  the  most; 
they  would  sometimes  hit  one  another's  hands  with  the 
spoon.  But  I  have  noticed  after  a  little  while  each  has  a  full 
supply — each  satisfied,  they  are  as  good  friends  as  ever,  for- 
getting the  little  difficulties  they  had — the  little  rap  with  the 
spoon.  It  is  all  forgotten,  and  they  play  together  as  if 
nothing  had  ever  occurred — '  in  malice  they  were  children.' " 
Then  he  would  call  upon  his  brethren  to  imitate  them : 
"  You  may  have  your  little  difficulties  for  a  moment,  but  in 
malice  be  ye  children." 

BISHOP  ASBURY  OiT  TEMPTATION. 

The  bishop  was  once  discoursing  on  this  subject,  that  has 
perplexed  so  many.  There  are  those  who  suffer  because  they 
tkink  temptation  is  a  sin,  and  they  think  they  are  not  Chris- 
tians or  they  would  never  be  tempted.  If  temptation  is  a 
sin,  then  Jesus  sinned,  for  he  "  was  tempted  in  all  points  as 
we  are ;"  "  and  yet,"  adds  the  apostle,  "  without  sin."  If  he 
could  be  tempted  without  sin,  so  can  his  followers.  Mr. 
Asbury,  in  illustrating  the  point  that  temptation  is  not  a  sin 
unless  yielded  to,  said,  "  We  cannot  prevent  the  birds  flying 
over  our  heads,  but  we  can  prevent  their  making  a  nest  in 
our  hair," — a  striking  illustration,  showing  that  temptation 
is  involuntary,  but  the  yielding  to  it  voluntary  ;  that  the  first 
is  innocent,  while  the  latter  involves  guilt. 

BISHOP  ASBURY  ON"  THE  BEST   SITE  FOR  A  HOUSE 
OF  WORSHIP. 

Methodism  lost  much  in  early  days  by  erecting  church 
edifices  in  by-places.  Many  of  the  first  houses  of  worship 
were  difficult  of  access.  Some  benevolent  man  would  give 
us  a  site,  the  ground  so  poor  you  could  not  raise  mullin- 
stalks,  and  we  would    thank   him   and  erect  a  house 


FRANCIS  ASBURY. 


2) 


upon  it,  where  the  people  would  be  sure  not  to  find 
it.  Perhaps  the  donor's  object  might  be  pure  benevolence — 
or  to  keep  the  Methodists  out  of  the  village.  Other  denom- 
inations know  better,  and  have  pursued  a  wiser  course.  Look 
at  the  site  of  the  Episcopal  churches.  How  prominent — not 
in  lanes  or  by-streets,  but  the  most  public  places.  So  with 
the  Roman  Catholics.  They  do  not  build  in  a  hurry;  if 
they  cannot  secure  a  good  site  immediately  they  wait  till 
they  can.  Mr.  Asbury  saw  this  evil ;  and  in  speaking 
of  the  best  site  for  a  church,  said  he,  "  I  tell  you  what  it 
is — if  we  wish  to  catch  fish  we  must  go  where  they  are,  or 
where  they  will  be  likely  to  come.  We  had  better  pay 
quite  a  sum  of  money  for  a  site  in  some  central  position  in 
a  city,  town,  or  village,  than  have  them  give  us  half  a  dozen 
lots  for  nothing  in  some  by-street  or  lane.  We  should  be 
gainers  by  refusing  the  latter  and  securing  the  former." 

Most  heartily  I  rejoice  that  a  brighter  day  begins  to  dawn 
upon  us.  We  have  learned  to  take  the  advice  of  Asbury: 
"  If  we  want  to  catch  fish  we  must  go  where  they  are,  or 
where  they  will  be  likely  to  come." 

BISHOP  ASBURY^S  ADVICE  TO  YOUNG  PREACHERS. 

"  We  once  heard  Bishop  Asbury  say  to  a  class  of  young 
candidates  for  orders, '  When  you  go  into  the  pulpit,  go  from 
your  closets.  Leave  all  your  vain  speculations  and  meta- 
physical reasonings  behind.  Take  with  you  your  hearts  full 
of  fresh  spring-water  from  heaven,  and  preach  Christ  crucified 
and  the  resurrection,  and  that  will  conquer  the  world.' " — 
J.  B.  Finley. 

BISHOP  ASBURY'S  PUNCTUALITY. 

It  is  well  known  to  those  who  recollect  Bishop  Asbury  that 
he  was  remarkable  for  his  precision,  punctuality,  and  method. 
He  never  so  far  forgot  himself  as  to  offer  fi-ivolous  excuses 
2* 


28 


THE  HEROES  OF  METHODISM. 


for  delinquency.  "  Do  everything  at  the  time,"  was  a  rule 
he  most  scrupulously  observed. 

In  1803  Bishop  Asbury  was  in  New- York.  An  appoint- 
ment to  preach  at  eight  o'clock  in  the  evening  was  raade  for 
him  in  the  house  in  Methodist- Alley.  The  bishop  was  there 
precisely  at  the  time,  and  ready  to  begin ;  but  it  was  half- 
past  eight  before  the  house  was  lighted  and  the  people  as- 
sembled. He  began  the  meeting,  as  usual,  by  singing  and 
prayer.  He  then  named  his  text,  finished  his  introduction, 
and  was  upon  the  first  general  division  of  his  discourse  when 
the  clock  struck  nine.  He  paused  a  moment,  closed  his 
Bible,  and  made  the  following  observations :  "  The  meeting 
was  appointed  at  eight  o'clock :  I  was  here  at  the  time,  and 
ready  to  begin ;  but  the  preachers  were  not  here,  nor  the 
people.  It  is  now  time  to  dismiss."  He  then  prayed  and 
pronounced  the  benediction. 

BISHOP  ASBURY'S  LOVE  FOR  THE  ITINERANCY. 

An  earthly  Eden,  a  domestic  Paradise,  would  have  had  no 
charms  for  him  :  a  splendid  mansion,  surrounded  by  shrubbery 
the  most  beautiful — trees,  with  their  rich  foliage,  and  branches 
filled  with  the  songsters  of  heaven,  making  the  air  reverberate 
with  melody — would  have  been  no  temptation  to  him  to  settle 
down.  The  itinerancy  was  "  the  element  in  which  he  Hved, 
and  moved,  and  had  his  being." 

During  the  Revolutionary  war,  when  he  was  obliged  to  re- 
main concealed  at  the  house  of  his  friend,  Thomas  White, 
Esq.,  in  Delaware,  he  was  as  unhappy  as  a  bird  confined  to 
its  cage ;  but  when  the  period  arrived  that  he  could  again 
ride  his  hard,  large  circuit  he  felt  like  a  prisoner  set  free,  and 
with  joy  again  entered  upon  his  work,  "  going  to  and  fro," 
while  "knowledge  was  increased." 

He  was  at  a  certain  time  in  Lynn,  Massachusetts,  at  the 
hospitable  mansion  of  Mr.  Johnson,  where  he  had  all  that 
heart  could  desire  to  make  him  comfortable  and  happy.  The 


FRANCIS  ASBURY. 


29 


femily  were  all  attention  to  their  distinguished  guest ;  but  he 
was  not  at  home.    If  the  mariner  sings 

"My  home  is  on  the  deep," 

the  bishop  could  sing 

"  My  home  is  when  I 'm  travelling." 

In  the  dwelling  of  Mr.  Johnson  he  grew  weary  in  a  few 
days,  and  exclaimed,  "  To  move,  move,  seems  to  be  my  Hfe. 
I  now  lament  that  I  did  not  set  off  with  the  young  men  to 
the  province  of  Maine." 

BISHOP   ASBURY'S  regard  FOR  CHILDREN. 

The  bishop  made  himself  the  friend  of  children  wherever  he 
went.  When  he  entered  a  family  he  would  pay  special 
attention  to  them,  and  secure  their  affections.  They  would 
always  be  glad  to  see  him.  A  little  boy  saw  him  coming 
toward  the  house :  he  ran  to  his  mother,  and  said,  "  I  wish  I 
had  my  clean  clothes  on,  for  I  know  when  Father  Asbury 
comes  in  he  will  hug  me  up." 

BISHOP  ASBURY  AND  PUNCH. 

In  the  year  1788,  as  Bishop  Asbury  was  on  his  way  to  the  city 

of  Charleston,  S.  C.,in  passing  through  the  parish  of  St  *s, 

he  chanced  to  fall  in  ^ith  a  coloured  man  belonging  to  Col. 
W.,  whose  name  was  Punch.  When  the  bishop  drove  up  the 
negro  was  sitting  on  the  bank  of  a  creek,  fishing,  and  care- 
lessly whistling  a  jig  tune.  Punch's  character  had  been  bad  ; 
he  was  wholly  irreligious — probably  not  knowing  what  the 
word  religion  meant.  The  bishop  stopped  his  horse  when  he 
reached  the  coloured  man,  and  entered  into  conversation 
with  him.  His  first  question  was,  "Punch,  do  you  ever 
pray?"  To  this  the  reply  was,  "No,  sir."  With  that  the 
bishop  alighted,  secured  his  horse,  and  seated  himself  be- 
side Punch,  who  was  by  this  time  considerably  alarmed,  and 


30 


THE  HEROES  OF  METHODISM. 


commenced  speaking  kindly  and  earnestly  to  him  oi  he 
subject  of  his  soul's  salvation.  He  told  him  of  the  da  jgers 
of  sin,  of  the  shortness  of  life,  and  of  the  dreadful  day  of  judg- 
ment ;  pointing  out  to  him,  in  a  few  words,  the  Gospel  way 
of  salvation  by  faith  in  Jesus  Christ,  and  entreated  him  to 
repent,  and  call  upon  God  for  mercy.  By  this  time  Punch 
was  greatly  affected,  and  tears  had  began  to  roll  down  his 
swarthy  cheeks.  The  bishop  then  sung  several  verses  of  that 
beautiful  hymn  commencing  with  these  words : — 

Plunged  in  a  gulf  of  dark  despair,"  &c. 

He  then  prayed  with  Punch,  bade  him  an  affectionate 
farewell,  and  saw  and  heard  no  more  of  him  for  twenty  or 
twenty-five  years.  After  this  time  Punch  obtained  leave  to 
visit  the  bishop ;  and  came  sixty  or  seventy  miles  on  foot, 
to  Charleston,  during  Bishop  Asbury's  last  visit  to  that 
city.    What  a  meeting  that  must  have  been  ! 

But  to  resume  the  thread  of  our  narrative.  After  the 
bishop  left  him.  Punch  was  filled  with  a  new  and  soul-stir- 
ring train  of  thoughts.  He  drew  up  his  fishing-line,  and  set 
out  homeward.  The  spirit  of  all  gi*ace  was  at  work  in  the 
depths  of  the  poor  black  man's  soul ;  and  to  use  his  own 
language  when  afterward  relating  the  scene,  "  I  been  tink 
'fore  I  got  home  Punch  be  gone  to  hell."  However,  he 
faithfully  followed  the  directions  of  his  spiritual  instructor, 
and  gave  himself  to  earnest  and  continual  prayer  for  the 
pardon  of  sins,  until,  after  a  few  days,  he  was  brought  hap- 
pily to  "  the  knowledge  of  salvation  by  the  remission  of 
sins,  through  faith  in  Christ." 

Blessed  economy  of  Gospel  salvation,  which  reaches,  in 
its  adaptions  to  human  nature,  the  lowest,  the  farthest  gone 
from  light  and  life :  which,  by  the  accompanying  energies 
of  spiritual  power,  renders  vital  and  efficacious  the  passing 
words  of  Christian  instruction  ! 

No  man  could  be  expected  to  keep  all  these  things  con- 
cealed in  his  bosom.    Forthwith  Punch  began  to  talk  about 


FRANCIS  ASBURY. 


SI 


the  soul,  and  salvation,  and  the  hope  of  heaven,  to  his  fel- 
low-servants. It  was  a  strange  tale  to  them,  but  not  an  idle 
tale.  Many  became  thoughtful  about  their  souls,  and  resorted 
frequently  to  Punch  for  instruction  as  to  what  they  should 
do  to  be  saved.  The  little  leaven  worked.  One  and  an- 
other, praying  to  God  for  light  and  mercy,  was  brought  to 
know  Christ  in  the  manifestation  of  the  spirit ;  the  circle 
widened,  until  crowds  would  gather  around  the  cabin  doors 
of  Punch  for  religious  conversation  and  prayers. 

All  this,  of  course,  could  not  pass  without  the  notice  of 
the  overseer,  who  felt  himself  called  on  to  put  down  "  this 
way."  Being  thus  restricted.  Punch  could  only  speak 
privately,  and  in  his  own  house,  to  a  few  friends  who  were 
awakened  to  the  interest  of  their  souls.  One  night  he 
heard  the  overseer  call  him.  As  a  few  had  met  in  his 
house  for  prayer,  he  went  out  anticipating  rough  con- 
sequences ;  but  to  his  astonishment  he  found  the  overscei* 
prostrate  on  the  ground,  crying  to  God  for  mercy  on  his  soul. 
"  Punch,"  said  he,  "  will  you  pray  for  me  ?"  Punch  did  so ; 
and,  as  he  used  to  relate  the  circumstance  afterward,  he  said  : 
"  I  cry,  I  pray,  I  shout,  I  beg  de  Lord  hear.  Presently  de 
oberseer  he  rise ;  he  throw  he  arms  around  me ;  he  tank 
God,  and  den  he  tank  Punch !" 

This  overseer  shortly  after  joined  the  Church,  became 
an  exhorter,  and  after  some  time  a  preacher ! 

Thus  the  way  of  this  faithful  negro  was  opened  to  more 
extensive  usefulness  among  his  fellows,  and  for  several 
years  he  continued  as  he  had  begun,  exhorting  and  encour- 
aging all  around  him  to  serve  God.  After  some  years  his 
master  died.  In  the  settlement  of  the  estate  Punch  passed 
to  Colonel  A.,  of  the  parish  of  A.  Thus  he  was  thrown 
into  a  new  field,  and  into  it  he  carried  the  same  "  blame- 
less walk  and  conversation,"  and  the  same  desire  to  do  good 
to  the  souls  of  his  fellow-servants.  In  1836,  at  the  special 
solicitation  of  planters  of  that  particular  section  of  country, 
a  missionary  was  sent  to  their  plantations  from  the  South 


32 


THE  HEROES  OF  METHODISM. 


Carolina  Conference.  The  writer  of  this  article  was  honoured 
with  the  appointment.  On  my  reaching  the  plantation 
where  Punch  lived,  I  found  between  two  and  three  hundred 
persons  under  his  supervision  whom  he  had  gathered  into  a 
kind  of  society ;  many  of  whom,  upon  further  acquaintance,  I 
found  truly  pious  and  consistent.  I  was  much  interested  on 
ray  first  visit  to  the  old  veteran. 

Just  before  I  reached  his  house  I  met  a  herdsman,  and 
asked  him  if  there  was  any  preacher  on  the  plantation. 
"  0  yes,  Massa;  de  old  bushup  lib  here  !"  Said  I,  "  Is  he  a 
good  preacher  ?"  "  O  yes,"  was  the  reply ;  "  he  word  bum 
we  heart !" 

He  showed  me  the  house.  I  knocked  at  the  door,  and 
heard  approaching  footsteps,  and  the  sound  of  a  cane  upon 
the  floor.  The  door  opened,  and  I  saw  before  me,  leaning 
on  a  staff,  a  hoary-headed  black  man,  with  palsied  limbs 
but  a  smiling  face.  He  looked  at  me  a  moment  in  silence ; 
then,  raising  his  hands  and  eyes  to  heaven,  he  said,  "  Now, 
Lord,  lettest  thou  thy  servant  depart  in  peace,  for  mine  eyes 
have  seen  thy  salvation !"  I  was  confused.  He  asked  me 
to  take  a  seat,  and  I  found  in  the  following  remarks 
the  reason  of  his  exclamation.  Said  he,  "  I  have  many 
children  in  this  place.  I  have  felt  for  some  time  past 
that  my  end  was  nigh.  I  have  looked  around  to  see  who 
might  take  my  place  when  I  am  gone.  I  could  find  none. 
I  felt  unwilling  to  die  and  leave  them  so,  and  have  been 
praying  to  God  to  send  some  one  to  take  care  of  them. 
The  Lord  has  sent  you,  my  child;  I  am  ready  to  go." 
Tears  coursed  freely  down  his  time-shrivelled,  yet  smiling  face. 
I  was  overwhelmed. 

This  interview  gave  me  much  encouragement.  He  had 
heard  of  the  application  for  a  missionary,  and  only  wanted 
to  live  long  enough  to  see  his  face.  After  this  I  had 
several  interviews  with  him,  from  which  I  learned  his  early 
history.  I  always  found  him  contented  and  happy.  In  the 
lapse  of  a  short  time  afterward  he  was  taken  ill,  and 


FRANCIS  ASBURY. 


lingered  a  few  days.  On  Sabbath  morning  he  told  me  he 
should  die  that  day.  He  addressed  affecting  words  to  the 
people  who  crowded  around  his  dying  bed.  The  burden  of 
his  remarks — the  theme  of  his  soul — was,  "Now,  Lord, 
lettest  thou  thy  servant  depart  in  peace."  He  applied  these 
words  to  himself,  and  continued  his  address  to  the  last 
moment ;  and  death  gently  stole  his  spirit  away  while  saying, 
"  Let  thy  servant  depart  in  peace — let-let-le !" 

His  mistress  sent  for  me  to  preach  his  funeral  sermon. 
The  corpse  was  decently  shrouded,  and  the  coflSn  was  car- 
ried to  the  house  of  worship.  I  looked  upon  the  face  of  the 
cold  clay :  the  departed  spirit  had  left  the  impress  of 
Heaven  upon  it.  Could  I  be  at  a  loss  for  a  text  ?  I  read 
out  of  the  Gospel,  "Now,  Lord,  lettest  thou  thy  servant 
depart  in  peace." 

What  a  field  for  reflection  does  this  account  open  before 
the  mind!  How  all-comprising,  world-redeeming,  are  the 
energies  of  Gospel  grace.  Here  was  a  poor,  unlettered, 
outcast  negro,  of  bad  character,  dug  out  of  the  ruins  of  sin, 
— washed,  redeemed,  disenthralled,  made  respectable; — made 
an  instrument  of  good  to  hundreds — is  it  saying  too  much, 
looking  to  remote  consequences,  to  add — thousands?  and 
at  last,  gathering  up  his  feet  in  peaceful  death,  carried 
from  the  low  condition  of  a  rice-field  slave  by  angels  into 
Abraham's  bosom !  Is  any  achievement  in  the  world  too 
difficult  for  such  a  Gospel  ? 

Again :  what  a  lesson  does  this  whole  history  afford  to 
Asbury's  sons  !  Calumny  has  attempted  to  blacken  the 
character  of  that  great  and  good  man.  But  behold  him  a 
true  successor  of  the  apostles  !  "  instant  in  season  and  out  of 
season ;"  halting  on  his  journey  to  converse  with  and  pray 
for  an  unknown  black  man ;  preaching — with  what  glorious 
success  let  the  foregoing  account  attest — Jesus,  and  him 
crucified,  in  the  highways  and  hedges !  What  a  glorious 
harvest  sprung  up  from  that  handful  of  seed,  dropped 
casually  by  the  wayside ! 


34 


THE  HEROES  OF  METHODISM. 


May  we,  to  whom  the  providence  of  God  has  so  signallj 
opened  a  door  to  the  coloured  population  of  this  country, 
"  be  instant  in  season  and  out  of  season,"  ready  to  improve 
every  occasion  of  doing  good  to  the  souls  of  our  fellow-men, 
bought  with  the  precious  blood  of  Christ,  and  on  their  way 
to  the  doom  of  an  eternity! — Southern  Christian  Advocate, 

BISHOP  ASBUEY  AND  REV.  WILLIAM  BURKE. 

In  1*792,  at  the  Western  Conference,  after  the  examination 
of  the  character  of  William  Burke,  and  before  he  retired. 
Bishop  Asbury  said,  "  Brother  Burke  has  accomplished  two 
important  things  during  the  past  year — he  has  defeated  the 
O'Kelleyites,  and  has  married  a  wife." 

Mr.  Burke  was  the  first  preacher  who  travelled  in  the 
West  after  marrying,  for  to  marry  and  to  locate  were  then 
synonymous.  No  provision  at  this  time  was  made  for  the 
support  of  preachers'  wives,  and  therefore  there  was  poor 
encouragement  for  preachers  to  marry,  and  still  poorer  en- 
couragement for  any  one  to  be  united  in  matrimony  to  the 
preachers. 

BISHOP  ASBURY  AND  PRIMITIVE  METHODIST 
SIMPLICITY. 

The  bishop  was  anxious  that  the  Methodists  should  walk 
by  the  same  rule,  and  mind  the  same  thing."  He  was 
jealous  of  every  departure  from  primitive  simpHcity,  there- 
fore he  would  frequently  call  their  attention  to  the  "old 
land-marks." 

"  Shortly  after  the  new  church  was  opened  in  Eutaw-street, 
Baltimore,  Bishop  Asbury  preached  a  plain,  close  sermon  in 
said  church.  It  was  his  first  sermon  in  the  new  edifice. 
His  text  was,  '  Seeing,  then,  that  we  have  such  hope,  we  use 
gieat  plainness  of  speech.'  The  discourse  was  plain  and 
powerful.  He  expressed  a  fear  that  the  Baltimoreans  were 
departing  from  the  simplicity  of  the  Gospel ;  he  reproved 


FRANCIS  ASBURY. 


them  in  the  sph-it  of  a  father,  and  raised  his  voice  and  cried 
aloud,  '  Come  back !  come  back !  come  back !'  raising  his 
voice  higher  at  every  repetition.  His  looks  are  still  imprinted 
on  my  mind,  and  the  solemn  words, '  Come  back!  come  back ! 
come  back !'  still  seem  to  sound  in  my  ears.  There,  under 
that  pulpit,  rest  in  peace  the  ashes  of  the  good  old  bishop. 

"  If  he  were  to  start  into  life  again,  and  take  that  pulpit, 
would  he  not  have  cause  to  repeat  the  cry,  '  Come  back  I' 
still  louder?  But  it  is  not  likely  that  those  who  will  not 
hear  Jesus  and  his  apostles  would  be  persuaded  though 
Asbury  rose  from  the  dead  !" — Hev.  Henry  Smith. 

BISHOP  ASBURY  AMONG  THE  LOG-CABINS  AND  IN 
THE  QUARTERLY  CONFERENCE. 

The  following  beautiful  reminiscences  of  the  venerated  As- 
bury are  from  the  pen  of  the  late  James  Quinn,  and  were 
inserted  in  his  Life  hy  Rev.  J.  F.  Wright.  Mr.  Quinn  enti- 
tled the  chapter,  "  Bishop  Asbury  among  the  Log-Cabins." 

"  I  once  had  the  pleasure  of  accompanying  Bishop  Asbury 
ten  days  on  one  of  his  western  tours  through  the  then  infant 
state  of  Ohio',  in  the  days  of  log-cabins ;  and  they  were  not 
such  unsightly  things,  if  coon  and  wild-cat  skins  were  hang- 
ing round  the  walls,  and  deer-horns  strewed  over  the  roof, 
and  wild  turkeys'  wings  sticking  about  in  the  cracks ;  for  they 
were,  with  few  exceptions,  the  best  dwellings  in  the  land. 
Well,  in  many  of  these  we  met  a  smiling  welcome,  and  were 
most  hospitably  enterlained,  and  the  good  bishop  always 
made  himself  pleasant  and  cheerful  with  the  families,  so  that 
they  soon  forgot  all  embarrassment,  and  appeared  as  easy  in 
their  feelings  as  if  they  had  received  the  bishop  into  ceiled 
and  carpetted  parlours,  as  some  of  them  had  in  the  old  states. 
Some  of  them  were  very  neat  and  clean,  and  fitted  up  in  good 
taste,  which  showed  that  if  madam  could  not  play  on  the 
pianoforte  she  had  taken  lessons  from  Israel's  wise  king, 
and  knew  well  how  to  look  to  the  aflfairs  of  her  house  if  it 


36 


THE  HEROES  OF  METHODISM. 


was  a  cabin.  It  must  be  confessed,  however,  that  all  were 
not  so ;  for  it  was  our  sad  lot  to  fall  in  with  one  or  two  that 
were  miserably  filthy,  and  fearfully  infested  with  vermin. 
This  was  a  heavy  tax  on  the  feelings  of  the  poor  bishop  ;  for 
he  had  as  fair,  and  as  clear,  and  thin  a  skin  as  ever  came 
from  England,  and  in  him  the  sense  of  smelling  and  tasting 
were  most  exquisite.  But,  dear  souls,  they  were  as  kind  as 
you  please,  and  the  bishop  did  not  hurt  their  feelings,  but 
prayed  for  them,  and  talked  kindly  to  them.  Many  of  them 
have  got  better  houses  since  that  time,  have  made  good  im- 
provements, and  their  daughters  have  come  out  quite  polished. 
But  we  got  to  quarterly  meeting,  for  he  was  passing  my  dis- 
trict, and  a  most  blessed  season  we  had :  sinners  awakened, 
souls  converted,  believers  quickened,  backsliders  reclaimed. 
O,  the  Master  of  assemblies  was  with  us  of  a  truth  !  Quar- 
terly-meeting conference  came  on.  '  Well,  Mr.  Asbury,  you 
will  attend  with  us  and  preside  V  *  No,  son,'  was  the  reply, 
*  let  every  man  stand  in  his  lot  and  do  his  part  of  the  work ; 
when  you  shall  have  got  through  your  business  let  me  know, 
and  I  will  come  and  see  you.'  So  we  went  to  business 
pretty  expeditiously,  expecting  an  address  from  the  bishop. 
We  had  no  long,  tough  speeches,  and  those  repeated ;  but 
went  through,  and  brought  our  business  to  a  close  in  due 
time,  and  sent  a  messenger  to  inform  him  that  we  were  ready 
to  receive  him.  He  came,  took  the  chair,  and  after  a  short 
pause  commenced  taking  notice  of  the  infancy  of  the  state, 
the  infancy  of  the  Church,  the  toils  and  privations,  the  trials 
and  temptations  peculiar  to  such  a  state  of  things,  and  the 
great  necessity  of  watchfulness  and  prayer,  and  diligent 
attendance  on  the  means  of  grace,  both  public  and  private. 
He  spoke  of  his  own  toils,  cares,  and  anxieties  with  some 
emotion — of  the  great  and  glorious  extension  and  spread  of 
the  work  of  God  in  the  east  and  south,  also  in  the  west  and 
and  south-west,  both  among  the  Methodists  and  other  Chris- 
tian people.  He  spoke  with  much  feeling.  '  But  the  quar- 
terly conference — the  importance  of  this  branch  of  our  eccle- 


FRANCIS  ASBURY. 


87 


siastical  economy — "  to  hear  complaints,  to  receive  and  try 
appeals^''  and  thus  guard  the  rights  and  privileges  of  the 
membership  against  injury  from  an  incorrect  administration; 
to  try,  and  even  expel,  preachers,  deacons,  and  elders;  to 
examine,  license,  and  recommend  to  office  in  the  local  de- 
partment; to  recommend  for  admission  into  the  travelling 
connexion  persons  as  possessing  grace,  gifts,  and  usefulness 
for  the  great  and  important  work  of  the  Gospel  ministry ; 
surely  you  will  see  and  feel  the  highly  responsible  station 
which  you  fill  as  members  of  this  body.  We  send  you  our 
sons  in  the  Gospel  to  minister  to  you  the  word  of  life,  and 
watch  over  your  souls  as  they  that  must  give  account.  That 
they  may  become  men,  men  of  God  and  even  fathers  among 
you,  help  them  in  their  great  work ;  and  that  you  may  help 
them  understandingly,  read,  mark,  learn,  and  inwardly  digest 
your  excellent  Discipline :  it  is  plain,  simple,  and  Scriptural. 
It  is  true,  speculative  minds  may  find  or  make  difficulties 
where  there  are  none.  [I  am  not  ashamed  to  confess  that 
I  learned  something  during  this  lecture  that  I  thought  well 
worth  taking  care  of.]  But  a  few  words  about  your  man- 
ner of  living  at  the  present.  You  are  now  in  your  log- 
cabins,  and  busily  engaged  in  clearing  out  your  lands.  Well, 
think  nothing  of  this.  I  have  been  a  man  of  cabins  for  these 
many  years,  and  I  have  been  lodged  in  many  a  cabin  as 
clean  and  sweet  as  a  palace;  and  I  have  slept  on  many 
coarse,  hard  beds,  which  have  been  as  clean  and  as  sweet  as 
water  and  soap  could  make  them,  and  not  a  flea  nor  a  bug 
to  annoy.  [Here  I  had  to  hang  my  head.  Dear  old  gen- 
tleman, he  had  not  forgotten  the  night  when  he  could  get 
no  sleep.]  Keep,'  said  the  bishop,  '  the  whiskey-bottle  out 
of  your  cabins,  away  far  from  your  premises.  Never  fail  in 
the  offering  up  of  the  morning  and  evening  sacrifice  with 
your  families.  Keep  your  cabins  clean,  for  your  healths' 
sake  and  for  your  souls'  sake,  [put  this  to  your  wives 
and  daughters ;]  for  there  is  no  religion  in  dirt,  and  filth, 
and  fleas.    But,'  said  he,  'of  this  no  more.    If  you  do  not 


38 


THE  HEROES  OF  METHODISM. 


wish  the  Lord  to  forsake  your  cabin,  do  not  forsake  his;  you 
will  lose  nothing,  but  be  gainers,  even  in  temporal  things,  by 
going  and  taking  your  household  with  you,  even  on  a  week 
day ;  you  cannot  all  have  Sabbath  preaching.  It  is  time  we 
close  the  evening  service.'  A  few  words  more  in  commend- 
ing us  to  God  and  the  word  of  his  grace,  and  then  what  a 
prayer! — how  spiritual,  how  fervent,  how  fully  adapted  to 
the  state  of  the  country  and  the  Church  as  they  then  were ! 
Truly  it  might  be  said  he  was  mighty  in  prayer." 

BISHOP  ASBUEY'S  reproof  TO  CONFERENCE  SPEECH- 
MAKERS. 

There  is  a  class  of  men  in  almost  eveiy  conference  who 
monopolize  the  talking.  They  must  discuss  every  question — 
throw  light  on  every  subject.  They  consume  much  time, 
and  often  on  subjects  that  are  unimportant. 

After  a  number  of  long  speeches  had  been  made,  on 
one  occasion,  in  the  Baltimore  Conference,  the  Rev.  John 
W.  Bond  arose  to  make  a  few  remarks.  One  who  had 
been  speaking  on  the  other  side  interrupted  him,  intimating 
that  brother  Bond  knew  nothing  on  the  subject.  It  was  at 
the  time  he  was  the  travelling  companion  of  Bishop  Asbury. 
The  venerable  bishop  called  the  brother  to  order  for  interrupt- 
ing the  speaker,  and  said,  in  his  emphatic  manner,  "  Let  my 
boy  alone :  he  never  rises  to  speak  unless  he  has  something 
to  say." 

This  was  not  only  a  commendation  of  brother  Bond, 
who  seldom  spoke,  but  a  rebuke  to  those  who  are  forever 
speech-making,  whether  they  have  anything  to  say  or  not. 

It  reminds  me  of  General  Erastus  Root,  (for  many  years 
Speaker  of  the  House  at  Albany,)  who  was  himself  a  distin- 
guished statesman  and  orator.  Some  one  inquired  of  him 
what  were  the  qualifications  for  a  popular  and  successful 
speaker.  He  said  there  were  only  two :  "  First,  be  sure  you 
have  something  to  say  before  you  rise  up ;  the  second  is, 


FRANCIS  ASBURY. 


80 


after  you  have  said  it,  sit  down."  Well  it  would  be  if  tho 
speakers  in  our  halls  of  legislation  and  in  our  ecclesiastical 
bodies  would  learn  these  rules  and  practise  them ! 

BISHOP  ASBURY'S  REGARD  FOR  THE  SHEEP  OF  THE 
WILDERNESS. 

In  1810  Bishop  Asbury  visited  an  obscure  part  of  the  west- 
ern country  (Kanawha)  which  was  then  a  wilderness,  and  he 
pleasantly  told  the  Rev.  Thomas  S.  Hinde  that  he  had  vis- 
ited the  region  in  order  that  the  people  might  see  and  know 
their  superintendent ;  remarking,  "  The  shepherd  ought  to 
know  the  flock,  and  the  flock  the  shepherd :  they  ought  to 
know  what  man  it  is  that  governs  them,  and  I  have  come 
nearly  one  hundred  miles  out  of  my  way  to  see  them." 
No  wonder  the  writer  exclaims,  "O  Asbury,  the  inhabit- 
ants of  these  hills  and  mountains  will  long  make  mention 
of  thee!" 

BISHOP  ASBURY  AND  THE  APPOINTMENTS  OF 
PREACHERS. 

At  the  annual  conference  held  in  Chillicothe,  Ohio,  Octo- 
ber, 1812,  Bishop  Asbury  said  to  the  preachers,  "Brethren, 
if  any  of  you  have  anything  peculiar  in  your  circumstances 
that  should  be  known  to  the  superintendent  in  making 
your  appointment,  if  you  will  drop  me  a  note  I  will,  as  far 
as  compatible  with  the  great  interests  of  the  Church,  en- 
deavour to  accommodate  you."  J.  B.  Finley  had  a  great 
desire  to  go  west,  because  his  kindred  lived  in  that  direction, 
and  it  would  be  pleasant  to  be  near  them ;  so  he  wrote 
a  polite  note  to  the  bishop,  requesting  to  be  sent  westward. 
No  attention  was  paid  to  his  request ;  and  when  the  appoint- 
ment was  read,  instead  of  hearing  his  name  announced  in 
connexion  with  some  western  appointment,  he  was  sent  one 


40 


THE  HEROES  OF  METHODISM. 


hundred  miles  further  east.  "  To  this,"  he  says,  "  I  responded 
'Amen  ;'  and  after  the  adjournment  of  conference  I  said  to  the 
bishop,  '  If  that  is  the  way  you  answer  prayers,  I  think  you 
will  get  no  more  prayers  from  me.'  '  Well,'  said  the  bishop, 
smihng  and  stroking  my  head,  '  be  a  good  son  in  the  Gos- 
pel, James,  and  all  things  will  work  together  for  good."* 
Mr.  Finley  adds,  "  I  have  found  that  those  who  are  most  in 
the  habit  of  praying  for  appointments  are  those  who  are  gen- 
erally most  disappointed  ;  for  if  their  prayers  were  answered 
it  would  be  against  the  prayers  of  the  whole  Churches  who 
pray  to  be  delivered  from  them." — Auto-Biography. 

BISHOP  ASBURY  AXD  HIS  PORTRAIT. 

Those  who  look  at  the  portrait  of  the  venerable  apostle  of 
Methodism  in  America  will  feel  an  interest  in  knowing  how 
it  was  secured.  It  is  known  that  many  men  are  gi*eatly 
averse  to  having  their  portraits  taken.  Bishop  Asbury  was 
among  the  number. 

In  1812  the  General  Conference  passed  a  resolution  re- 
questing the  bishop  to  sit  for  his  likeness,  to  be  drawn  by  a 
portrait  painter  of  Philadelphia.  The  conference  adjourned, 
and  the  bishop,  instead  of  complying  with  their  request,  fled 
from  the  city  into  parts  unknown;  and  the  secretar}'  found 
it  necessary  to  write  a  letter  of  apology  to  the  artist,  stating 
the  reluctance  of  the  bishop  to  have  his  portrait  painted. 

The  Rev.  Thomas  E.  Bond  informs  us  how  the  brethren  in 
Baltimore  succeeded  in  securing  his  likeness.  They  overcame 
him  in  a  peculiar  manner.  They  approached  the  bishop 
where  he  was  vulnerable,  and  he  surrendered.  Dr.  Bond 
visited  the  Baltimore  Conference  in  the  Monumental  city 
March,  1854,  and  gives  us  the  following  in  the  Christian 
Advocate  and  Journal: — 

"  It  had  long  been  desired  to  procure  a  portrait  of  Bishop 
Asbury,  and  they  (the  principal  lay  brethren  in  Light-street 
Church,  Baltimore)  were  to  hold  a  conference  to  agree  upon 


FRANCIS  ASBURY. 


4a 


the  ways  and  means  of  attaining  the  object.  Now,  unlike 
other  committees  of  ways  and  means,  their  discussions  and 
plans  had  no  reference  whatever  to  money.  Perhaps  there 
was  no  one  of  this  council  who  was  not  both  able  and  will- 
ing to  bear  all  the  expense  of  the  great  enterprise  in  contem- 
plation. The  only  diflniculty  arose  from  the  doubtful  safety 
of  him  who  should  propose  it  to  the  bishop.  He  was  a 
keen  discerner  of  men's  spirits ;  could  interpret  not  only 
words,  but  the  slightest  gesture  or  emotion  in  the  speaker ; 
had  little  patience  with  human  vanities,  and  was  known  to 
hold  it  as  no  shght  indication  of  vanity  for  a  man  to  have 
his  likeness  painted  for  the  benefit  of  posterity.  Some  side 
influences  had  been  brought  to  bear  upon  him  before,  in 
reference  to  getting  his  portrait ;  but  he  let  down  his  enor- 
mous eyebrows,  and  looked  upon  the  proposers  with  such  a 
withering  glance,  that  they  felt  the  commencing  process  of  an 
evaporation  which  threatened  annihilation,  and  they  escaped 
for  their  lives. 

"  Under  such  circumstances,  the  venerable  council  of  Bal- 
timore elders  assembled,  and  were  astounded  by  a  declara- 
tion of  their  brother  M'Cannon,  that  he  would  ask  the  bishop 
to  sit  to  a  portrait  painter  then  in  the  city.  Heretofore,  in 
all  their  consultations,  they  had  been  like  the  rats  who  desired 
to  have  a  bell  on  the  cat  to  give  them  notice  of  the  stealthy 
approaches  of  the  common  enemy,  but  none  were  willing  to  un- 
dertake the  service  ;  and  now,  when  one  of  their  most  cautious 
and  judicious  brethren  announced  his  purpose  to  brave  all 
the  dangers  of  the  experiment,  they  came  at  once  to  the 
conclusion  of  James  Boswell's  father,  who  could  not  other- 
wise account  for  his  son's  dancing  attendance  on  old  Dic- 
tionary Johnson  than  by  supposing  him  insane.  '  Jamy's 
clean  daft,'  said  the  poor  old  laird ;  and  the  brethren  were 
tempted  to  think  brother  Jamy  M'Cannon  '  clean  daft '  too. 
However,  they  agreed  to  leave  the  whole  management  of  the 
affair  with  the  projector,  each  right  glad  to  escape  his  por- 
tion of  the  responsibility. 


42  THE  HEROES  OF  METHODISM. 

"  The  Baltimore  Conference  was  in  session.  Many  of  the 
preachers  had  travelled  in  the  mountainous  districts  of  the 
Far  West,  as  it  was  then  called,  but  actually  lying,  for  the 
most  part,  east  of  the  Ohio  River.  We  look  now  for  the  Far 
West  to  the  shores  of  the  Pacific.  The  preachers  from  the 
then  Far  West,  however,  were  generally  very  poorly  clad. 
Mr.  Asbury  was  domiciled  at  his  friend  M'Cannon's,  who 
was  a  merchant  tailor,  and  had  been  very  successful  in  his 
business.  The  bishop  had  to  pass  through  the  front  shop 
in  entering  the  house.  He  had  been  greatly  depressed  by 
the  sad  equipment  of  many  of  his  pioneers  for  the  ensuing 
year.  As  he  passed  through  the  shop,  his  friend  M'Cannon 
said  to  him :  '  Brother  Asbury,  here  is  a  piece  of  black 
velvet  which  I  was  thinking  I  would  make  up  for  the 
preachers,  for  some  of  them  seem  to  be  in  great  need.' 
*  Ah,  James,'  said  the  bishop,  '  that  would  be  doing  a  good 
thing,  if  you  can  afford  it !'  '0  yes,  I  can  afford  it ;  but  I 
expect  to  be  paid  a  good  price  for  it,'  said  Mr.  M.  '  Price  V 
said  the  bishop,  letting  down  those  terrible  eyebrows ;  '  if  it 
is  price  you  are  after  it  is  not  worth  while  to  talk  any 
more  about  it ;'  and  was  about  to  pass  on.  *  Come,  come, 
brother  Asbury,'  said  his  friend  M.,  '  you  can  pay  my  price 
and  be  none  the  poorer  for  it.'  '  Why,  how  is  that  ?'  said 
the  bishop.  'Just  this,'  answered  his  friend:  *if  you  will 
sit  to  a  painter  for  your  portrait,  I  will  give  the  piece  of  vel- 
vet to  the  preachers,  and  have  it  made  up  for  them 
besides.*  *  Ah,  James,'  said  the  bishop,  '  I  believe  you 've 
got  me  now !'  and  passed  on  to  the  parlour.  The  first 
sketch  was  taken  the  same  afternoon,  and  brother  M'Cannon 
immortalized  himself  in  the  eyes  of  his  brethren  of  the 
council."    For  further  particulars,  see  page  469. 

BISHOP   ASBURY   AXD  TOM  JENKINS. 

Soon  after  Mr.  Asbury  was  elected  Bishop  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church,  he  had  occasion  to  cross  the  Blue  Ridge 
from  the  western  part  of  North  Carolina  to  Tennessee. 


FBANCIS  ASBURY, 


43 


Nearly  one  whole  day  was  spent  in  wandering  among  the 
ravines  in  the  neighbourhood  of  the  mountain,  and  several 
times  in  the  course  of  the  day  he  found  himself  completely 
bewildered.  His  intention  was  to  reach  a  cottage  near  the 
top  of  the  mountain,  where  men  of  his  own  order  were 
wont  to  resort;  but  the  shadow  of  the  mountain,  as  it 
lengthened  over  the  vale,  proclaimed  the  close  of  day, 
and  admonished  him  that  he  must  seek  for  entertainment 
among  strangers,  or  else  consent  to  spend  the  night  in  the 
deep  and  lonely  recesses  of  a  strange  forest. 

In  vain  he  looked  out  for  a  cottage  where  he  might 
spend  the  night.  No  opening  field  appeared — no  curling 
smoke  ascended — no  woodman's  axe  resounded — all  was 
silent  and  solitary !  He  pressed  his  jaded  pony,  but  night 
soon  spread  its  sable  curtains  around  him.  About  this 
time  the  night-owl  set  up  a  hideous  scream,  which  almost 
caused  the  bishop's  hair  to  stand  erect.  To  this  responded 
the  dismal  howling  of  wolves  in  every  direction,  which  so 
wrought  upon  his  apprehensions  that  he  easily  imagined 
them  standing  upon  every  rock  that  overlooked  his  road ; 
and,  to  heighten  the  horror  of  the  scene,  he  distinctly  heard 
at  a  short  distance  from  the  road  the  shrieks  of  a  panther, 
which  thrilled  through  his  whole  soul.  Again  he  urged  on 
his  pony ;  but  the  whip  only  extorted  a  heavy  and  jaded  trot. 
As  he  cast  his  eyes  around  him  everything  seemed  to  have 
put  on  the  aspect  of  woe,  and  every  sound  inspired  melan- 
choly. The  roaring  of  the  distant  waterfall,  the  rippling  of 
the  small  rill,  as  its  sportive  waters  leaped  from  rock  to  rock, 
— the  cry  of  the  whippoorwill  and  the  sighing  of  the  evening 
breeze, — all  contributed  to  deepen  the  gloom  in  which  his 
mind  was  already  involved.  He  often  looked  to  the  right 
hand  and  to  the  left,  hoping  that  some  cottage  fire  might 
arrest  his  eye ;  but  all  was  a  dense  forest. 

As  he  slowly  ascended  from  one  of  the  deep  ravines,  he 
fancied  he  saw  in  the  distance  a  light  from  some  dwelling ; 
but  it  only  blamed  for  a  moment,  and  then  disappeared, 

3 


44 


THE  HEROES  OF  METHODISM. 


A  moment  after,  one  solid  column  of  fire  seemed  to 
gush  as  from  the  crater  of  some  volcano,  widening  as  it 
sped  its  way  tlirough  the  apparently  cloudless  sky,  and 
blazing  in  fearful  grandeur  around  the  tall  peaks  of  the 
mountain.  This  was  succeeded  by  one  long,  loud,  and 
deafening  peal  of  thunder,  which  convinced  the  bishop  that  a 
dreadful  thunder-storm  was  at  hand.  For  an  hour  the  stcrm 
raged  fearfully.  The  oft- reiterated  peals  of  thunder,  as 
they  broke  in  angry  tones  from  the  clouds,  and  reverberated 
among  the  hills — the  lurid  coruscations  of  the  lightning — 
the  torrents  of  rain  that  fell,  with  the  bending  and  break- 
ing of  many  a  sturdy  tree — made  it  one  of  the  most  fearful 
scenes  the  bishop  had  ever  witnessed.  But  the  storm 
passed  by,  and  through  the  mercy  of  God  he  was  yet 
spared,  and  pursued  his  course. 

But  he  had  not  proceeded  far  when  suddenly  his  pony 
halted,  pricked  up  his  ears,  and  stood  still.  "  Mercy  I"  ejac- 
ulated the  bishop,  "  what  now !"  He  applied  his  whip ; 
but  his  horse  was  not  to  be  moved.  He  attempted  to 
turn  him  round,  (for  manly  courage  now  gave  way  to  the 
wildest  apprehensions,)  but  the  beast  stood  as  if  bound  by 
a  spell  of  enchantment.  For  a  moment  the  bishop  was  held 
in  fearful  suspense,  and  then  a  noise  was  heard  near  by,  at 
which  the  aftrighted  horse  wheeled  round,  and  bounded  off 
with  the  agility  of  a  buck,  leaving  the  bishop  flat  in  the 
middle  of  the  road.  But  the  worst  was  now  over;  for 
he  distinctly  heard  human  voices,  to  which  he  hastily 
called,  and  received  a  friendly  answer.  They  proved  to 
be  those  of  two  young  men  who  had  been  hunting  in 
the  course  of  the  day,  and  had  wandered  far  from  home. 
They  had  killed  a  deer,  which  they  were  carrying  home. 
Wearied  with  their  load,  they  had  lain  down  to  rest.  At 
first  they  rudely  laughed  at  the  bishop's  manifest  excite- 
ment; but  finding  his  horse  had  left  him,  they  evinced 
sympathy,  and  assisted  to  catch,  him.  He  asked  per- 
mission to  go  home  with  them,  which  was  granted.    It  was 


FRANCIS  ASBURY. 


46 


not  long  before  they  reached  the  end  of  their  journey.  It 
was  a  httle  log-hut  buried  in  the  recess  of  the  mountains,  and 
on  every  side  stood  huge  battlements  of  rocks.  A  rail-pen 
secured  his  hoi-se  till  morning.  The  old  people  were  found 
to  be  plain  and  simple-hearted.  A  very  rough  supper  was 
procured,  on  which  the  bishop  hastily  regaled  himself.  After 
supper  he  proposed  they  should  have  prayers.  All  was  still 
as  the  house  of  death.  He  took  out  a  pocket  Bible,  from 
which  he  read  a  chapter  aloud ;  and  then,  kneeling  down, 
offered  up  a  devout  prayer,  in  which  he  ardently  petitioned 
for  the  welfare  of  the  family,  &c.  During  prayer  the  old 
man  stood  back  at  the  door,  with  a  little  urchin  on  each 
side  holding  fast  to  his  clothes ;  the  old  dame  stood  close  up 
in  the  corner  of  the  great  wooden  chimney,  with  two  little 
ones — one  in  her  arms,  and  the  other  by  the  hand.  The 
other  children  all  ran  under  the  bed ;  and  the  two  young 
men  who  had  conducted  him  to  the  house  both  left,  and 
were  not  seen  again  until  morning.  The  next  morning  the 
bishop  proposed  preaching  there  soon,  as  there  were  no 
churches  in  that  part  of  the  country.  Silence  gave  con- 
sent ;  so  he  appointed  a  day,  and  then  pursued  his  journey. 

The  day  for  preaching  arrived ;  the  bishop  appeared, 
when  lo !  the  mountain-land  seemed  to  have  poured  forth  all 
its  sturdy  population  to  witness  the  truly  novel  circumstance 
of  a  bishop  preaching  at  the  house  of  old  Mr.  Jenkins. 
Ere  he  got  within  a  mile  of  the  place  he  heard  the  sharp 
cracking  of  rifles,  the  sound  of  the  huntsman's  horn,  the 
occasional  cry  of  the  hounds,  and  hearty  laughter  from  many 
a  sturdy  mountameer.  Suffice  it  to  say  that  during  service 
they  were  still, — the  word  was  not  without  effect.  To 
cut  the  matter  short,  in  less  than  twelve  months  a  Methodist 
Church  was  organized  in  that  place,  including  nearly  all  of 
Mr.  Jenkins's  family.  Next  year  a  conference  was  held  not 
two  hundred  miles  from  the  spot.  On  arriving,  the  bishop 
was  not  a  little  surprised  to  see  several  healthy-looking 
mountaineers,  with  their  rifles  on  their  shoulders;  and 


46 


THE  HEEOES  OF  METHODISM. 


among  them  lie  recognised  the  features  of  Tom  Jenkins, 
one  of  the  young  men  who  conducted  him  home  that 
memorable  night  of  his  sad  bewilderment  in  the  mountains. 
Tom  had  applied  for  a  circuit,  and  his  simplicity  and  good- 
ness convinced  the  bishop  he  might  be  useful,  so  he  sent 
him  to  a  circuit  far  down  the  country.  Here  we  lose  sight 
of  our  young  hero  for  three  years,  after  which  he  appears 
in  conference  almost  as  fine  as  a  bird  of  paradise.  He 
and  the  bishop  boarded  at  the  same  house.  During  the 
first  evening  the  bishop  was  busily  engaged  in  poring  over 
some  old  documents.  Tom  spent  most  of  the  evening  in 
conversation  with  Miss  Ann  Nettleton,  who,  by-the-by, 
was  prone  to  dwell  very  largely  on  the  sublime.  In  the 
course  of  the  evening  Tom  remarked  that  the  cross  to  be  sus- 
tained by  an  itinerant  preacher  was  very  great,  as  he  must 
necessarily  deny  himself  all  the  pleasures  of  a  comfortable 
home,  and  not  unfrequently  be  thrust  into  very  rude  society, 
&c.  After  some  time  the  bishop,  dropping  his  pen,  turned 
round,  and  addressed  Tom  as  follows :  "  Well,  Tommy,  I 
am  glad  to  see  you  once  more."  Then,  turning  to  the  rest 
of  the  company,  he  said,  "I  shall  always  love  brother 
Tommy.  He  was  a  good  boy  as  far  as  he  knew  how. 
The  first  time  I  ever  saw  him,  he  took  me  home  one  dark, 
rainy  night  and  treated  me  well.  He  had  little  idea  then  of 
ever  being  a  preacher — when  I  went  to  prayers  he  ran  out 
of  doors.  The  hospitality  of  his  father's  house  I  shall  never 
forget ;  when  going  there  I  always  expected  mush  and  milk 
of  a  superior  quality.  O !"  continued  the  bishop,  "  the  life 
of  an  itinerant  is  one  of  toil ;  but  for  my  own  imrt  I  have 
never  sustained  many  privations  by  it."  It  is  said  this  mod- 
est reproof  had  a  most  happy  effect  on  Tommy,  as  he  never 
afterward  made  much  complaint  of  the  uncouth  manners  of 
the  people,  or  his  great  sacrifices  in  the  cause  of  religion.* — 
S.  W.  Virginian. 

^The  name  of  Jenkins  is  fictitious,  but  the  facts  are  said  to 
have  occurred  as  related. 


FRANCIS  ASBURY. 


47 


BISHOP  ASBURY  AND  THE  LOVE-FEAST. 

Bishop  Asbury  having  travelled  hard  through  a  western 
wilderness  to  reach  a  quarterly  meeting  on  his  way  to  con- 
ference, was  unusually  tempted  at  not  having  seen  for  some 
time  any  direct  evidence  of  his  success  in  the  conversion  of 
souls.  He  felt  inclined  to  believe  that  his  mission  had 
expired,  and  that  he  had  better  retire  from  the  work. 

With  this  depression  of  spirit  he  entered  the  love-feast  on 
Sabbath  morning,  in  a  rude  log-chapel  in  the  woods,  and 
took  his  seat  unknown  to  any  in  the  back  part  of  the  con- 
gregation. After  the  usual  preliminary  exercises  had  been 
gone  through  with  by  the  preacher,  an  opportunity  was 
given  for  the  relation  of  Christian  experience.  One  after 
another  testified  of  the  saving  grace  of  God,  and  occasionally 
a  verse  of  some  hymn  was  sung,  full  of  rich  and  touching 
melody.  The  tide  of  religious  feeling  was  rising  and  swell- 
ing in  all  hearts,  when  a  lady  rose  whose  plain  but  exceed- 
ingly neat  attire  indicated  that  she  was  a  Methodist.  Her 
voice  was  fall  and  clear,  though  slightly  tremulous.  She 
had  travelled  many  miles  to  the  meeting,  and  her  feelings 
would  not  allow  her  to  repress  her  testimony.  She  remarked 
that  she  had  not  long  been  a  follower  of  Christ.  "Two 
years  ago,"  said  she,  "  I  was  attracted  to  a  Methodist  meet- 
ing in  our  neighbourhood  by  being  informed  that  Bishop 
Asbury  was  going  to  preach.  I  went,  and  the  spirit  sealed 
the  truth  he  uttered  on  my  heart.  I  fled  to  Jesus  and  found 
redemption  in  his  blood,  even  the  forgiveness  of  my  sins, 
and  have  been  happy  in  his  love  ever  since. 

*  Not  a  cloud  doth,  arise  to  darken  the  skies, 
Or  hide  for  a  moment  my  Lord  from  my  eyes.' " 

She  sat  down,  and,  ere  the  responses  which  her  remarks  had 
awakened  in  all  parts  of  the  house  had  died  away,  Bishop 
Asbury  was  on  his  feet.    He  commenced  by  remarking  that 


48 


THE  HEROES  OF  METHODISM. 


"he  was  a  stranger  and  pilgrira,  halting  on  his  way  for  rest 
and  refreshment  in  the  house  of  God,  and  that  he  had  found 
both ;  and,"  said  he,  with  upHfted  hands,  while  the  tears  of 
joy  coursed  each  other  freely  down  his  face,  "  if  I  can  only  be 
instrumental  in  the  conversion  of  one  soul  in  travelling  round 
the  continent,  I  '11  travel  round  it  till  I  die." — J,  B.  Finley. 

This  touching  incident  is  full  of  instruction.  The  great 
and  the  good  are  powerfully  tempted  as  well  as  others. 
We  should  not  have  wondered  to  hear  of  some  young 
minister — not  only  young  in  years  but  young  in  experience — 
despairing  of  success,  and  feeling  hke  retiring  from  the 
work;  but  from  the  laborious,  persevering,  and  successful 
Asbury  we  should  expect  no  such  thing. 

But  bishops  are  liable  to  temptation  as  well  as  the  young- 
est preacher,  and  the  preacher  as  well  as  the  private  mem- 
ber. Ministers  are  "men  of  Hke  passions"  with  othei-s, 
and  subject  to  temptation.  "This  treasure  is  committed 
to  earthen  vessels." 

Ministers  should  not  despair  of  success  because  of  the 
want  of  visible  fruit.  Duty  is  ours — results  belong  to 
God.  Fruit  does  not  always  appear  immediately.  We  are 
to  cast  our  bread  upon  the  waters,  expecting  to  find  it  after 
many  days.  "  In  the  morning  sow  thy  seed,  and  in  the 
evening  withhold  not  thy  hand,  for  thou  knowest  not  which 
shall  prosper."  We  also  see  in  this  incident  the  benefit  of 
relating  rehgious  experience.  Had  it  not  been  for  this,  the 
bishop  might  not  have  heard  of  his  success,  and  might  have 
suffered  long  under  his  powerful  temptation.  That  testi- 
mony broke  the  spell,  and  inspired  him  with  new  courage. 

BISHOP  ASBURY  ON  THE  MARRIAGE  OF  PREACHERS. 

"At  the  Baltimore  Conference,  held  in  Alexandria,  D.  C, 
in  1804,  Samuel  Monnet  made  apphcation  to  be  received 
on  trial.    One  of  the  preachers  said,  '  He  is  married.* 


FHANCIS  ASBURY. 


49 


Mr.  Asbiiry  replied,  'What  of  that?  Perhaps  he  is  the 
better  for  it.  Better  take  preachers  well  married  than  be 
at  the  trouble  of  marrying  them  after  you  get  them.' " — 
Mev.  Henry  Smith. 

A  half  century  has  rolled  away  since  the  wise,  far-seeing 
Asbury  uttered  this  sentiment ;  and  the  history  of  the 
Church,  as  well  as  the  observation  of  the  thinking,  con- 
firms the  wisdom  of  the  remark. 

BISHOP  ASBURY  AND  THE  REV.  JAMES  QUINN. 

In  1803  Rev.  James  Quinn,  of  the  Ohio  Conference,  con- 
sulted Bishop  Asbury  in  accordance  with  that  rule  of 
Discipline, — "Take  no  step  toward  marriage  without  first 
consulting  your  brethren."  The  interview  with  the  bishop 
resulted  in  the  following  dialogue.  The  bishop  first  pleas- 
antly inquired,  "  How  old  are  you  ?"  "  Twenty-eight  years." 
[That  is  a  proper  age  for  a  Methodist  preacher  to  take  that 
important  step.]  "How  long  have  you  been  in  the  work?" 
"Four  years."  "Then  you  have  elder's  orders?"  "Yes, 
sir."  All  this  is  proper.  When  men  enter  their  probation 
they  have  ministerial  characters  to  form,  and  ministerial 
talents  to  exhibit  to  the  satisfaction  of  the  Church.  Pru- 
dence says  that  they  ought  to  form  that  character  and 
exhibit  those  talents  before  they  take  that  important  step. 
But  few  notices  have  ministerial  weight  suflBcient  to  justify 
them  in  bringing  the  expense  of  a  wife  and  family  on  the 
Church.  The  people  will  feel,  and  they  will  make  the  men 
feel,  and  the  dear  sister  of  sixteen  will  feel  too.  Besides, 
in  green  age  men  do  not  always  select  such  women  as  the 
apostle  says  the  wives  of  deacons  and  elders  must  be  — such 
as  may  be  wholesome  examples  of  the  flock  of  Christ. 

"  Well,  how  now  ? — locate  ?"  "  No,  sir ;  that  is  not  my 
intention."  "  Very  well ;  I  supposed  your  call  was  not  out. 
Some  men  marry  fortunes,  and  go  to  take  care  of  them ; 
some  men  marry  wives,  and  go  to  make  fortunes  for  them ; 


50 


THE  HEROES  OF  METHODISM. 


and  thus  when  for  the  time  y,e  should  have  age  and 
experience  in  ihe  ministry,  we  have  youth  and  inexperience ; 
and  such  have  charge — this  not  of  choice  but  of  necessity. 
We  must  do  the  best  we  can." — Bev.  James  Quinn. 

BISHOP  ASBURY  AND  THE  INQUISITIVE  LADY. 

"  In  September,  1810,"  says  the  Rev.  James  Quinn,  "  Bishop 
Asbury  and  myself  crossed  over  the  Ohio  into  Belpre,  and 
were  kindly  received  and  lodged  at  the  house  of  Squire  B. 
Our  hostess  was  an  intelligent  old  lady  from  the  land  of  steady 
habits,  who  had  heard  Mr.  Whitefield  preach,  and  was  greatly 
delighted  in  seeing  and  conversing  with  the  Methodist  bishop. 
But  O,  her  regrets  on  account  of  the  gi-eat  privations  on 
coming  to  the  West!  'Yonder  we  had  such  fine  meeting- 
houses, comfortable  pews,  organs,  and  such  delightful  singing  I 
and  then,  O  such  charming  preachers !  0,  bishop,  you  can't 
tell,'  &c.  '  Yes,  yes,'  said  the  bishop  ;  '  old  Connecticut  for 
all  the  world ! — 

'  A  fine  house  and  a  high  steeple, 
A  learn'd  priest  and  a  gay  people.' 

But  where  shall  we  look  for  Gospel  simplicity  and  purity  ? 
Let  us  go  back  to  the  days  of  the  pilgrim  fathers.' 

"  '  Well,  bishop,  whom  are  you  going  to  send  us  next  year  I 
I  hope  you  will  send  us  a  very  good  preacher.' 

"  '  Send  you  a  good  preacher  ? ' 

"'Yes,  sir;  don't  you  send  them  where  you  please?' 

"  It  was  evident  that  the  bishop  was  disposed  to  waive  the 
subject,  upon  which  one  present  said,  '  Madam,  I  '11  tell  you 
how  it  is :  we  send  him,  and  tell  hira  to  send  us ;  and  then, 
besides,  he  must  come  and  see  us :  for  he  must  travel  at 
large,  and  oversee  the  whole  work,  and  must  not  stop 
without  our  leave.' 

"'Indeed  !  Well,  well,  well !  Now  I  guess  I  understand 
it  better.    Bishop,  where  do  you  live  2' 


FRANCIS  ASBURY. 


51 


"  •  No  foot  of  land  do  I  possess, 
No  cottage  in  the  •wilderness, — 
A  poor  wayfaring  man.' 

"  At  this  the  old  lady  appeared  much  surprised ;  and  so 
the  conversation  closed." 

BISHOP  ASBURY  AND  THE  ALMOND-NUTS. 

The  Rev.  Abner  Chase  gives  a  description  of  a  sc^ne  which 
shows  what  kind  of  a  heart  beat  in  the  bosom  of  Francis 
Asbury — that  he  was  grateful  for  the  smallest  favours,  and 
had  learned  "  in  everything  to  give  thanks :" — 

"  In  1810,  as  Bishop  Asbury  was  on  his  way  to  attend  the 
first  session  of  the  Genesee  Conference,  accompanied  by 
Daniel  Hitt,  Henry  Boehm,  and  several  other  preachers,  he 
called  and  spent  a  few  days  with  us  at  a  camp-meeting  on 
Delaware  circuit,  where  I  was  then  stationed.  From  this 
meeting  I  accompanied  them  for  a  day  or  two,  being  ac- 
quainted with  the  geography  of  that  part  of  the  country.  It 
was  in  the  heat  of  summer,  and  after  travelling  until  man 
and  beast  were  weary  and  needed  refreshment,  we  knew  of 
no  friendly  family  on  whom  we  might  call ;  for  Methodists 
in  that  country  were  then  '  few  and  far  between,'  and  I  did 
not  know  that  any  of  our  company  had  money  sufficiently 
plenty  to  justify  our  calling  at  a  public-house.  Riding  on 
slowly  and  faint,  we  came  to  a  wood,  when  the  bishop  or- 
dered a  halt.  When  all  had  dismounted,  and  our  beasts 
were  nipping  the  stinted  growth  of  grass  by  the  wayside,  the 
bishop  announced  that  under  the  seat  of  his  two-wheeled 
chair,  on  which  he  rode,  he  had  a  few  almond-nuts,  and 
directed  that  they  should  be  taken  out  and  spread  upon  the 
trunk  of  a  fallen  tree.  When  this  was  done  he  devoutly 
asked  a  blessing  thereon,  and  we  were  all  invited  to  share  in 
the  repast.  When  we  had  finished  our  dinner  we  started  on 
again,  the  bishop  appearing  as  cheerful  as  though  he  had 
dined  at  some  richly-furnished  table." 

3* 


52 


THE  HEKOES  OF  METHODISM. 


BISHOP  ASBUEY  AND  THE  CRUST  OF  BREAD. 

"As  Bishop  Asbury  and  I  were  travelling  through  the 
woods,  we  would  often  stop  to  refresh  both  naan  and  beast. 
The  bishop  would  sit  down  by  a  spring  of  water,  take  a 
crust  of  bread  from  his  pocket,  and  ask  a  blessing  over  it 
with  as  much  solemnity  and  gratitude  as  he  would  over  a 
table  spread  with  the  richest  and  most  plentiful  provision. 
Blessed  man !  many  a  time  it  drew  tears  from  my  eyes 
when  I  witnessed  it;  and  often,  since  the  good  bishop  has 
gone  to  feast  in  Paradise,  I  have  wept  as  I  have  thought 
upon  it." — Rev.  H.  Boehm. 

BISHOP  ASBURY  ON  THE  DIFFERENT  GENERATIONS 
OF  METHODISTS. 

"Bishop  Asbury  came  to  a  camp-meeting  in  Ohio  on  a 
Saturday  in  1814,  in  company  with  his  travelling  com- 
panion, the  Rev.  J.  W.  Bond.  No  sooner  was  it  known 
that  he  had  arrived  than  there  was  a  general  move  toward 
him.  All  seemed  to  be  anxious  to  see  a  bishop,  and  they 
pressed  around  him  so  closely  that  it  was  diflBcult  to  get 
into  the  preachers'  tent.  After  he  was  housed,  the  people 
crowded  around  the  door  by  hundreds.  He  remarked  to 
me,  on  witnessing  the  curiosity  of  the  people,  'You  might 
as  well  have  an  elephant  in  your  camp  as  to  have  me.'  It 
seemed  to  annoy  him  to  have  them  gazing  at  him  in  such 
numbers;  and,  to  relieve  him,  I  requested  them  to  retire 
from  the  tent,  and  said  that  the  bishop  would  preach  for 
them,  perhaps,  the  next  day,  when  they  all  could  have  an 
opportunity  of  seeing  and  hearing  him. 

"  Brother  Bond,  his  travelling  conipanion,  desiring  to  visit 
his  friends  at  Urbana,  I  took  charge  of  the  bishop,  and  made 
him  as  comfortable  as  circumstances  would  allow.  On  the 
Sabbath  the  bishop  preached,  and  the  vast  concourse  had  an 


FRANCIS  ASBURY. 


88 


opportunity  of  judging  for  themselves  in  regard  to  the  ability 
of  the  Methodist  prelate. 

"  That  day  the  Gospel  was  preaclied  in  demonstration  of 
the  spirit  and  power  of  God.  During  the  meeting  many 
were  converted,  and  joined  the  Church.  At  the  close  of  the 
meeting  I  started,  with  the  bishop,  for  Springfield,  where  we 
arrived  on  Tuesday  afternoon.  We  stopped  with  a  Method- 
ist family.  As  we  passed  through  the  parlours  we  saw  the 
daughter  and  some  other  young  ladies  dressed  very  gaily. 
The  daughter  was  playing  on  the  piano,  and  as  we  moved 
through  the  room  we  doubtless  elicited  from  those  fashion- 
able young  ladies  some  remarks  about  the  rusticity  of  our 
appearance;  and  the  wonder  was  doubtless  excited,  Where 
on  earth  could  these  old  country  codgers  have  come  from? 
The  bishop  took  his  seat,  and  presently  in  came  the  father 
and  mother  of  the  young  lady.  They  spoke  to  the  bishop, 
and  then  followed  the  grandfather  and  grandmother. 

"  When  the  old  lady  took  the  bishop  by  the  hand,  he 
held  it,  and  looking  her  in  the  face,  while  the  tear  dropped 
from  his  eye,  he  said,  *  I  was  looking  to  see  if  I  could  trace 
in  the  lineaments  of  your  face  the  likeness  of  your  sainted 
mother.  She  belonged  to  the  first  generation  of  Methodists, 
She  lived  a  holy  life,  and  died  a  most  triumphant  death. 
You,'  continued  the  bishop, '  and  your  husband  belong  to  the 
second  generation  of  Methodists.  Your  son  and  his  wife  are 
the  third ;  and  that  young  girl,  your  granddaughter,  repre- 
sents the  fourth.  She  has  learned  to  dress  and  play  on  the 
piano,  and  is  versed  in  all  the  arts  of  fashionable  life,  and  I 
presume,  at  this  rate  of  progress,  the  Jifth  generation  of 
Methodists  will  be  sent  to  dancing-school.' 

"  This  was  a  solemn  reproof,  and  it  had  a  powerful  efiect 
upon  the  grandparents.  The  first  Methodists  were  a  peculiar 
people  in  their  personal  appearance  and  manners,  and  could 
be  distinguished  at  a  single  glance.  Their  self-denial  led 
them  to  the  abandonment  of  all  the  lusts  of  the  flesh.  They 
were  simple-hearted,  single-eyed,  humble  and  devoted  fol- 


54 


THE  lIEliOES  OF  METHODISM. 


lowers  of  the  Saviour.  They  loved  God  devotedly,  and  one 
another  with  pure  hearts  fervently;  and,  though  scoflfed  at 
by  the  world,  hated  and  persecuted  by  the  devil,  they  wit- 
nessed a  good  profession  of  godliness  and  faith." — Rev.J.B, 
Finley.' 

BISHOP  ASBURY  AND  THE  YOUNG  MINISTER. 

Bishop  Asbury  did  not  "  mind  high  things,  but  condescended 
to  men  of  low  estate."  He  was  the  sincere  friend  of  the  col- 
oured race ;  and  while  he  ministered  to  the  spiritual  wants 
of  the  master,  he  did  not  forget  the  slave.  We  have  seen  him 
conversing  with  "  Punch,"  and  leaving  him  melted  into  tears. 
"  I  was  happy  last  evening,"  said  the  bishop,  on  one  occa- 
sion, "  with  the  poor  slaves  in  brother  Wells's  kitchen,  while 
our  white  brother  held  a  sacramental  love-feast  up  stairs.  I 
must  be  mindful  of  the  poor.  This  is  the  will  of  God  con- 
cerning me."  No  wonder  one  adds  :  "  To  an  observer,  that 
house  on  that  evening  must  have  presented  a  scene  of  rare 
interest :  the  venerable  Asbury,  Bishop  of  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal Church,  instructing  and  encouraging  in  piety  the  slaves 
in  the  kitchen^  while  the  preacher  of  the  station,  a  young  man 
who  had  been  in  the  ministry  less  than  six  years,  and  remain- 
ed less  than  six  more,  was  holding  a  sacramental  love-feast 
in  the  front  parlour  up  stairs !" 

BISHOP  ASBURY  IMPATIENT  OF  PROFITLESS  DISCUS- 
SIONS. 

It  is  a  matter  of  surprise  to  see  old  men,  gray  and  wise, 
wasting  time  and  strength  in  discussing  "  trifles  light  as  air" 
where  no  principle  is  at  stake :  "  Behold  how  great  a  mat- 
ter a  Httle  fire  kindleth  I"  Bishop  Asbury  was  exceedingly 
grieved  when  such  an  unprofitable  discussion  occurred. 

At  a  certain  time  the  bishop  attended  the  Virginia  Con- 
ference, and  for  hours  the  preachers  discussed  some  trifling 


FRANCIS  ASBURY. 


matter  without  deciding  the  question.  The  bishop  suddenly 
exclaimed,  "  Strange,  that  such  an  affair  should  occupy  for  so 
long  the  time  of  so  many  good  men !  Religion  will  do  great 
things,  but  it  does  not  make  Solomons." 

BISHOP  ASBURY  AND  THE  ECONOMICAL  STEWARD. 

A  certain  steward  of  a  circuit,  when  urged  to  exert  himself 
to  make  more  ample  provision  for  the  support  of  the  preach- 
ers, remarked  that  he  had  heard  Bishop  Asbury  pray  to  the 
Lord  to  keep  the  preachers  poor !  The  presiding  elder,  to 
whom  this  was  said,  replied,  that  "  such  a  prayer  in  that  place 
was  quite  unnecessary,  as  he  and  the  people  would,  without 
any  such  prompting,  see  that  this  was  done  to  perfection ! " 
— Bangs' s  History  of  Methodism. 

The  hardships  of  the  preachers  were  such,  and  their  wants 
so  poorly  supplied,  that  the  bishop  might  have  supposed  that, 
if  they  became  wealthy,  they  would  "  desist  from  travelling," 
and  the  great  itinerant  work  suffer.  The  bishop  did  not  for 
a  moment  entertain  the  idea  of  some,  which  is  to  "  starve  the 
preacher  into  humility,  and  pinch  him  into  sanctification." 

ASBURY  IN  THE  FAMILY— IN  THE  BALL-ROOM— AT 
THE  FERRY. 

The  following  is  extracted  from  the  "  Life  of  James  Quinn 
"In  September,  1810,  after  attending  a  camp-meeting  on  my 
district.  Bishop  Asbury  and  I  started  one  morning  very 
early,  and  called  at  several  farm-houses  on  the  way  down 
the  Ohio  River,  whose  inmates  were  not  Methodists,  and  the 
good  man  prayed  with  them  all.  Indeed,  I  have  seldom 
known  him  to  leave  a  family  without  prayer,  whether  they 
were  professors  or  not ;  for  he  was  always  intent  upon  doing 
good. 

"  At  three  o'clock  he  preached  in  a  school-house  opposite 
Blennerhasset's  Island ;  and  truly  it  might  be  said  of  the  ser 


66 


THE  HEROES  OF  METHODISM. 


mon,  as  I  once  heard  him  say  of  Charaock's  great  law  of  con- 
sideration, '  It  was  a  dagger  to  the  hilt  at  every  stroke.' 

"After  preaching  we  were  kindly  invited  by  Colonel  Put- 
nam, son  of  General  Putnam,  of  the  Revolution,  to  the  house 
of  his  son.  Major  Putnam,  where  we  were  treated  with  every 
attention.  Some  six  or  eight  of  the  principal  men,  with  their 
ladies,  came  in  to  see  and  spend  the  evening  with  the  Method- 
ist bishop.  Most  of  these  were  Revolutionary  men.  The 
conversation  of  the  evening  was  quite  of  an  interesting  char- 
acter, in  which  the  bishop  took  a  lively  part. 

"  But  ever  and  anon  an  important  religious  sentiment  was 
thrown  in,  or  a  moral  application  made,  to  which  the  com- 
pany bowed  silent  assent,  their  countenances,  in  the  mean 
time,  showing  that  the  weight  was  felt.  The  evening  closed 
with  devotional  services.  The  company  retired,  and  we  were 
conducted  to  our  lodgings  ;  and  where  should  we  find  our- 
selves but  in  the  splendid  ball-room  !  '  Here,'  said  the  bishop, 
*  they  were  wont  to  worship  the  devil ;  but  let  us  worship 
God.'  I  was  informed  that  the  decree  was  passed  soon  after 
that  no  more  balls  were  to  be  held  there. 

"  Next  morning  we  set  out  for  Athens.  As  we  were 
crossing  Little  Hockhocking,  I  said,  'Here,  Mr.  Asbury,  in 
1800,  the  man  used  to  set  me  over  ferriage  free,  saying  he 
never  charged  ministers  or  babes;  for  if  they  do  no  good, 
they  do  no  harm.'  'Ah,'  said  he,  '  that  is  not  true  of  min- 
isters ;  for  the  minister  who  does  no  good  does  much  harm.' 
"We  reached  Athens  on  Friday,  at  noon,  and  commenced  our 
camp-meeting.  It  went  on  well,  and  closed  well  on  the  fourth 
day ;  and  the  bishop  left  us  in  good  spirits  for  Chillicothe, 
having  preached  two  powerful  sermons." 

ASBURY  REDEEMING  THE  WIDOWS  COW. 

The  bishop  was  a  man  distinguished  for  universal  philan- 
thropy. Like  his  Master,  *'  he  went  about  doing  good."  He 
had  an  eye  to  pity,  a  heart  to  feel,  and  a  hand  to  relieve. 


FBANCIS  ASBURY.  Bt 

Passing  through  a  certain  place  in  Ohio  with  his  travelling 
companion,  the  Rev.  Henry  Boehm,  he  learned  that  the  cow 
of  a  poor  widow  woman  was  about  to  be  sold  for  debt. 
The  people  had  assembled,  and  the  vendue  was  about  to 
commence.  It  was  the  poor  woman's  all,  and  she  felt  ex- 
ceedingly grieved.  The  bishop  stopped,  and  inquired  into 
the  circumstances;  and,  when  he  heard  them,  he  declared 
the  cow  must  not  be  sold.  He  contributed  something  him- 
self, and  solicited  from  others  enough  to  pay  the  debt;  and 
the  widow  expressed  her  gratitude,  with  tears,  to  the  stran- 
ger who  had  compassion  upon  her  in  distress,  and  with  joy 
she  drove  home  her  cow. 

This  little  incident  shows  the  bishop's  heart  was  in  the 
right  place;  that  he  resembled  his  Master,  who  once  had 
compassion  on  a  widow,  and  all  he  knew  concerning  her  was 
her  affliction. 

ASBURY,  THE  MONK,  AND  THE  NUNS. 

To  Mrs.  Mary  Johnson,  of  Trenton,  I  am  indebted  for  this 
and  the  following  anecdote.  In  her  hospitable  mansion  she 
has  entertained  Bishops  Asbury,  George,  Hedding,  and 
others.  Bishop  Asbury  made  his  annual  tour  round  his 
large  diocese  with  the  regularity  of  the  seasons ;  the  people 
looked  for  him  as  much  as  for  spring  and  summer,  autumn 
and  winter. 

Brother  R  's,  in  Coventry,  Penn.,  was  one  of  the 

places  where  the  bishop  was  in  the  habit  of  resting.  In 
this  hospitable  dwelling  he  always  found  a  hearty  welcome. 
Their  cottage  always  stood  with  unlatched  door  ready  to 
receive  him;  and  their  parlour  witnessed  the  hearty  wel- 
comes he  received.  There  were  .three  unmarried  daugh- 
ters in  the  family  distinguished  for  industry,  strong  com- 
mon sense,  deep  and  genuine  piety,  and  shrewdness.  While 
they  served  with  Martha's  careful  hands,  they  also  loved 
with  Mary's  heart.    They  were  decided  in  their  Chris- 


58 


THE  HEROES  OF  METHODISM. 


tian  course  —  "their  hearts  were  fixed."  To  the  ques- 
tion, 

"  What  now  is  my  object  and  aim, 
What  now  is  my  hope  and  desire?" 

they  were  ever  ready  to  anewer, 

"  To  follow  the  heavenly  Lamb, 
And  after  his  image  aspire." 

The  bishop  had  been  entertained  there  several  times,  so 
that  he  felt  perfectly  at  home.  One  day  he  came  rather 
unexpectedly,  and  on  entering  the  house  he  learned  that 
the  family — the  girls — were  in  an  upper  apartment  engaged 
in  sewing.  He  went  up  stairs  and  knocked  at  the  door. 
When  it  was  opened  he  inquired,  "Is  this  the  room 
where  the  nuns  stay  ?"  "  Yes,"  said  one  of  the  girls,  "  and 
where  the  monks  have  no  business  to  come." 

ASBURY  AND  HIS  FAIR  GUIDE. 

At  another  of  his  annual  visits,  while  stopping  at  brother 

R  's,  in  Coventry,  Bishop  Asbury  had  an  appointment 

to  preach  a  few  miles  from  C,  a  place  where  he  had  never 
been,  and  he  was  unacquainted  with  the  road.  One  of  the 
daughters  proposed  accompanying  him  to  point  out  the  way. 
He  did  not  positively  decline,  though  he  would  have  been 
better  pleased  to  go  alone,  and  let  his  fair  guide  remain 
at  home.  It  was  in  the  days  when  men  and  women 
rode  on  horseback ;  for  carriages,  wagons,  &c.,  <fec.,  were 
luxuries  but  little  known  and  enjoyed.  The  horses  were 
soon  ready.  The  bishop  seated  himself  upon  his  faith- 
ful animal ;  and  Mary,  with  the  agility  of  a  light  horseman, 
was  soon  upon  the  back  of  the  family  horse.  Side  b^  side 
they  rode  toward  their  place  of  destination.  It  was  about 
six  miles  distant — a  poor  road,  and  but  seldom  travelled. 
When  they  were  about  half-way  they  came  to  a  creek  or 


FRANCIS  ASBURY. 


btreara  of  water,  the  banks  of  which  were  nigged,  and  there 
was  no  bridge.  The  bishop's  horse  leaped  across,  and 
stood  safe  on  the  other  side.  The  bishop  turned  round, 
and  congratulated  himself  that  his  guide  would  be  una- 
ble to  cross  the  stream,  and  that  he  could  pursue  his  jour- 
ney alone,  not  caring  about  a  female  accompanying  him 
to  this  new  place,  where  he  was  a  stranger.  He  said  to 
her,  "  Mary,  you  can 't  do  that  V  He  supposed  she  would 
not  dare  attempt  it.  But  she  was  used  to  horses  and 
to  riding  on  horseback.  Nothing  could  intimidate  or 
alarm  her.  Said  she,  "  I  '11  try,  Frank ;"  and  the  horse 
leaped  across  in  safety  with  its  rider,  and  the  next  moment 
she  was  alongside  of  the  bishop,  and  they  wended  their  way 
to  the  place  of  worship,  and  after  the  bishop  had  preached 
they  returned  home  in  safety. 

BISHOP  ASBURY  AND  THE  SECRETARY. 

"At  a  conference  which  I  attended  in  1807,"  says  a  writer 
in  the  Christian  Advocate,  "  where  Bishop  Asbury  presided, 
it  appeared  that  some  of  the  preachers  had  adopted  the 
fashionable  mode  of  wearing  their  hair.  The  bishop  took 
occasion,  during  the  session,  to  lecture  us  on  the  subject  of 
conformity  to  the  world,  and  dwelt  particularly  on  this 
point.  At  the  close  of  his  address,  and  when  about  to  take 
his  seat,  with  his  voice  a  little  raised,  he  said,  '  I  would  as 
soon  these  remarks  would  hit  my  right-hand  man  as  anybody 
else.'  Dr.  C,  secretary  of  the  conference,  with  much  com- 
posure, gi-asping  the  long  lock  on  the  top  of  his  head,  very 
respectfully  inquired,  'Do  you  mean  me,  sir?  Does  my 
hair  offend  you?  If  so,  it  shall  offend  you  no  longer.' 
Nothing  more  was  said ;  but  it  was  evident  when  the  doctor 
took  his  seat  in  the  conference  in  the  afternoon  that  he  had 
been  with  the  barber. 

"  I  have  often  reflected  upon  this  simple,  yet  to  me  interest- 
ing incident, — the  faithfulness  of  the  bishop,  and  the  ready 


60 


THE  HEROES  OF  METHODISM. 


acquiescence  of  the  preacher, — and  have  been  led  to  inquire 
whether  we  are  as  ready  now,  as  formerly,  to  *  obey  those 
to  whom  the  charge  and  government  over  us  is  committed, 
following  with  a  glad  mind  and  will  their  godly  admoni- 
tions.' " 

BISHOP  ASBURY  AND  THE  SOLDIERS. 

In  1812  the  bishop,  on  his  western  tour,  came  to  a  camp- 
meeting  near  Uniontown,  Fayette  county.  Pa.  This  was 
during  the  war  with  Great  Britain,  and  there  was  in  the 
neighbourhood  a  volunteer  company  preparing  to  march  to 
the  lines.  They  sent  a  request  to  the  camp-ground  to  be 
permitted  to  march  there  in  order,  hear  a  sermon,  and 
then  retire.  Their  request  was  readily  granted.  But  now 
the  question  arose.  Who  is  to  preach  to  the  soldiers  ?  and 
they  all  desired  that  the  bishop  should  perform  that  service ; 
but  the  old  gentleman  remarked  that,  being  an  Englishman, 
he  had  always  been  suspected  of  being  inimical  to  the  insti- 
tutions of  this  country,  and  even  on  that  western  tour  he 
had  been  insulted  on  the  subject;  but  if  the  brethren  re- 
quested it,  he  supposed  he  must  do  the  best  he  could. 
Accordingly,  some  of  the  seats  were  set  apart  for  the  sol- 
diers, and  chairs  placed  in  the  aisles  for  the  officers,  and  they 
marched  to  the  ground  in  fine  style.  The  bishop  ascended 
the  stand,  and  now,  of  course,  the  ear  of  the  suspicious  poli- 
tician was  open  to  catch  something  of  a  political  bearing 
from  the  old  Englishman ;  but,  after  singing  and  prayer,  he 
proceeded  to  read  out  his  text  as  follows :  "  And  the  soldiers 
likewise  demanded  of  him,  saying,  And  what  shall  we  do  ? 
And  he  said  unto  them,  Do  violence  to  no  man,  neither  ac- 
cuse any  falsely,  and  be  content  with  your  wages,"  (Luke 
iii,  14  ;)  from  which  he  proceeded  in  a  masterly  manner  to 
point  out  the  peculiar  position  of  soldiers,  and  the  respective 
duties  of  officers  and  men,  and  to  take  them  through  what 
might  be  termed  a  complete  course  of  military  morals. 


FRANCIS  ASBURY. 


61 


In  conclusion,  he  addressed  them  most  solemnly  and 
impressively  on  the  shortness  of  time,  and  the  uncertainty 
of  life  under  all  circumstances ;  but  more  especially,  as  they 
were  about  to  march  to  meet  the  enemy  on  the  battle-field, 
where  some  of  them  must  expect  to  fall,  and  be  suddenly 
launched  into  eternity,  he  urged  upon  them  the  great 
necessity  of  being  prepared  for  the  solemn  change.  As 
he  concluded  he  descended  from  the  stand  and  walked 
to  the  altar,  and  as  the  officers  rose  to  retire  he  shook 
hands  with  them,  bidding  them  an  affectionate  and  solemn 
farewell.  Altogether,  it  was  one  of  the  most  touching  and 
affecting  scenes  that  I  ever  beheld.  If  there  had  been  any- 
thing like  political  prejudice  or  suspicion  in  the  minds  of 
any,  it  was  completely  conquered.  There  were  few  dry  eyes 
in  the  vast  assembly :  the  dignified  and  venerable  appear- 
ance of  the  man,  his  time  and  care-worn  visage,  and 
the  solemn  tones  of  his  noble  and  majestic  voice,  made  an 
impression  not  soon  to  be  forgotten.  ^  Although  forty  years 
have  elapsed  since  the  occurrence,  it  is  as  vivid  in  my  mind 
as  though  it  had  transpired  but  yesterday. — Eev.  William 
Monroe. 

ASBURY  AND  A  TROOP  OF  PREACHERS. 

"  A  quarterly  meeting,"  says  Rev.  Asa  Kent,  "  was  held 
in  the  town  of  Waltham,  Mass.,  in  180*7.  Brother  E.  R. 
Sabin  was  the  presiding  elder  of  the  district.  The  preachers 
put  up  at  brother  Bemis's,  father-in-law  to  brother  George 
Pickering. 

"  Many  of  the  preachers  had  come  to  this  quarterly  meet- 
ing, and  we  agreed  to  meet  at  brother  Bemis's  on  Monday 
morning,  and  ride  together  into  Boston,  some  dozen  or  four- 
teen miles,  as  the  conference  would  commence  on  Tuesday. 

"  At  this  time  there  were  seventy-six  preachers  in  all  our 
part  of  New-England.  We  found  in  the  morning  twenty- 
five  all  mounted  according  to  the  order  .of  the  day,  saddle- 


62 


THE  HEROES  OF  METHODISM. 


bags  and  valises.  The  bishop  advised  us  to  ride  in  proper 
order, — two  and  two, — and  not  to  be  too  much  affected  with 
external  things  ;  *  for,'  said  he, '  we  shall  make  such  a  demon- 
stration to-day  as  the  people  never  saw  before.'  He  led  the 
way  alone  upon  his  noble  steed,  and  the  more  aged  brethren 
followed  as  he  desired,  and  the  younger  brought  up  the 
rear. 

"  As  we  proceeded,  the  faithful  house-dog  gave  the  alarm, 
and  brought  lots  of  smiling  faces  to  the  doors  and  windows. 
Boys  shouted,  *  Look  there,  look  there  1'  and  labourers  in 
the  fields  within  sight  of  the  road  suspended  operations,  and 
could  be  seen  making  motions  with  their  Lands  or  hoe- 
handles,  as  though  they  were  counting  the  passing  troop — 
a  demonstration,  truly,  and  not  soon  forgotten  by  the  people.'* 

BISHOP  ASBURY  AND  THE  PHYSICIANS. 

Dr.  Bangs,  in  his  "  History  of  Methodism,"  relates  the  fol- 
lowing characteristic  anecdote  of  Bishop  Asbury:  "On  a 
certain  occasion,  being  indisposed,  two  of  the  most  eminent 
physicians  were  employed  to  afford  him  their  medical  advice. 
"When  they  had  ended  their  services,  the  bishop  asked  them 
the  amount  of  their  demand.  They  very  courteously  and 
respectfully  replied  that  they  desired  nothing  more  than  his 
prayers.  The  bishop  then  remarked  that  he  never  suffered 
himself  to  be  in  debt,  and  therefore  he  would  discharge  this 
obligation  without  delay,  and  instantly  bowed  upon  bis 
knees,  and  offered  up  a  most  fervent  prayer  to  Almighty- 
God  for  the  salvation  of  his  generous  medical  friends.  This 
took  them  by  surprise.  It  is  said,  indeed,  that  one  of 
them  was  sceptically  inclined,  and  was  somewhat  abashed 
to  find  himself  so  unceremoniously  brought  upon  his  knees 
for  the  first  time  in  his  life,  to  listen  to  the  prayer  of  a 
Christian  bishop,  offered  up  in  the  name  of  a  Saviour 
in  whom  he  had  little  or  no  faith.  The  other  who  was  in 
attendance,  the  late  Benjamin  Rush,  with  whom  Bishop 


FRANCIS  ASBURT. 


68 


Asbury  was  on  terms  of  intimacy,  being  as  eminent  for  his 
Christian  virtues  as  he  was  for  his  medical  skill,  was  no  less 
edified  than  delighted  in  this  opportunity  of  participating 
with  his  friend  in  an  act  of  devotion  so  highly  creditable  to 
his  head  and  heart." 

BISHOP  ASBURY  AND  THE  DUELLISTS. 

"Bishop  Asbury  was  travelling  through,  I  think,  the  coun- 
try parts  of  North  Carolina  into  Virginia,  and  put  up  with 
a  brother  who  kept  a  house  of  entertainment  for  trav- 
ellers. They  had  just  risen  from  tea  as  a  neighbour  called 
at  the  door,  and  said  that  a  duel  had  just  been  fought 
but  a  fcY?  miles  distant,  and  that  one  had  received  a  ball  in 
his  leg. 

"Soon  a  carriage  drove  up  to  the  door,  and  some  half 
dozen  spruce  young  men  alighted,  and  wished  for  supper  as 
soon  as  convenient.  Their  business  was  at  once  understood, 
and  their  host  brought  them  into  the  room  and  introduced 
them  to  the  bishop,  and  they  were  seated  till  the  table  should 
be  laid.  He  began  a  free  conversation  with  them,  and 
found  they  were  young  gentlemen  of  refined  manners  and 
education ;  and  he  studied  some  method  by  which  he  could 
approach  them  so  as  to  do  them  good. 

"  Supper  was  announced,  and  they  invited  the  bishop  to 
eat  with  them ;  but  he  excused  himself,  having  just  left  the 
table;  still  they  desired  it,  and  he  went  with  them. 
He  supposed  that  be  had  designated  the  principal,  second, 
and  surgeon  ;  but  they  did  not  seem  to  have  an  idea  that 
their  business  was  known.  He  implored  the  blessing  of 
God  upon  their  souls,  bodies,  food,  <fec.  He  took  a  cup 
of  tea — a  beverage  not  often  slighted  by  him — and  excused 
himself  from  eating,  and  proposed  telling  them  some  of  his 
reflections  for  the  day.  I  am  sorry  that  I  cannot  give  the 
exact  words  of  the  bishop  ;  the  matter  is  familiar,  and  I  think 
the  substance  is  foimd  in  what  follows : — 


64 


THE  HEROES  OF  METHODISM. 


*' '  In  passing  over  these  hills  and  through  these  valleys  to- 
day, I  have  been  led  to  reflect  upon  the  mighty  changes 
■which  have  taken  place  since  I  first  passed  through  this 
section  of  country  years  ago.  Then  the  settlemenLs  were 
"  like  angels'  visits,  few  and  far  between." 

" '  The  pioneers  depended  much  upon  their  rifles  for  sup- 
port, until  they  were  able  to  obtain  supplies  from  the  soil. 
Now  I  am  really  delighted  with  the  changes  which  I 
behold. 

" '  These  hunters  were  a  hardy  class  of  men,  and  would 
give  thrilhng  incidents  of  their  exploits  in  those  "days 
which  tried  men's  souls."  But,  noble-minded  as  they  were, 
they  were  apt,  by  habit,  to  fall  into  a  besetting  sin:  they 
became  reckless  of  life.  The  glorious  Author  of  all  hfe  has 
permitted  man  to  take  the  life  of  beasts  when  he  needs  their 
skins  for  use,  or  their  flesh  for  sustenance.  He  may 
also  kill  wild  beasts,  or  anything  that  would  injure  or 
destroy  man,  or  the  labour  of  his  hands ;  but  some  have  a 
rare  thirst  for  blood,  even  when  they  have  no  idea  of 
making  any  use  of  either  hide,  flesh,  or  tallow. 

'  Behold  the  sportsman,  as  he  goes  forth  for  his  game. 
He  hears  the  chirping  of  a  bird  ensconced  in  the  fohage  of 
that  tree.  He  stops,  and  with  his  keen  eye  discerns 
his  victim  as  she  raises  her  grateful  song  to  the  top  of  her 
voice.  He  has  no  ear  for  such  music,  and  holds  a 
short  consultation  upon  her  life :  "  She  is  a  fair  mark,  and  I 
wish  to  test  my  skill,  and  the  correctness  of  my  rifle, 
by  putting  a  ball  through  her  heart."  He  takes  aim, 
the  singing  ceases,  and  the  harmless  creature  falls  dead  to 
the  eai'th.  He  leaves  her  to  rot  where  she  fell,  and  passes 
on  with  much  self-complacency. 

" '  Alas  for  that  man  I  God  has  told  him  that  not  a 
sparrow  falls  to  the  ground  without  his  notice.  God  was 
there,  and  saw  the  working  of  his  mind  when  he  deter- 
mined upon  blood,  and  the  motive  which  induced  him  to 
present  the  deadly  weapon.    He  has  taken  what  he  cannot 


FRANCIS  ASBURY. 


restore,  if  it  were  to  save  Lis  soul  from  death.  We  may  try 
to  excuse  his  thoughtlessness,  but  that  will  not  suffice ;  there 
is  a  depravity  of  nature  that  must  be  removed. 

"  '  There  has,  been  a  company  out  hunting  in  these 
woods  to-day.  With  cautious  steps  they  approached  the 
place  where  they  expected  to  find  their  game,  and  coming 
suddenly  to  an  open  space,  they  saw  a  noble  buck  standing 
still,  and  looking  intently  at  them.  One  fired  ;  but,  instead 
of  sending  the  ball  through  his  heart,  it  took  eff'ect  in  his 
leg,  and  with  one  bound  into  the  bushes  he  made  his 
escape.  Who  can  tell  what  he  may  suflfer  from  that 
wound,  and,  it  may  be,  go  halting  upon  that  leg  all  the  days 
of  his  life?' 

"  The  bishop  said  he  had  watched  their  agitation  as  he 
progressed ;  their  huny  increased,  with  downcast  eyes,  until 
he  came  to  that  point.  '  Then  they  rose  simultaneously, 
bowed  me  a  good  evening,  leaped  into  their  carriage, 
and  were  soon  out  of  sight.' " — Rev.  Asa  Kent, 

BISHOP  ASBURY  AND  R.  HUBBARD. 

"  It  was  Bishop  Asbury's  invariable  practice  to  request  all 
the  preachers  who  attended  conference  to  be  present  at  the 
beginning  of  the  session  and  remain  till  the  close,  unless 
something  special  should  prevent.  He  wished  them  to  feel 
an  interest  in  the  business  to  be  done,  and  know  what  they 
had  done,  so  that  they  could  inform  those  who  might  inquire 
of  them. 

"At  the  conference  in  Boston,  June,  1807,  two  or  three 
appeared  to  feel  no  great  interest  in  what  was  going  on, 
especially  brother  R.  Hubbard ;  he  would  come  in  late,  and 
soon  be  away  again,  &c.  The  secret  came  out  afterward, 
for  he  was  preparing  to  enter  the  'Apostolic  Succession  !' 

"  On  the  second  day,  I  think,  the  bishop  pressed  punctual 
attendance  upon  the  members,  when  a  brother  moved,  and 
it  was  voted,  that  if  one  came  in  after  the  list  had  been  called, 


66 


THE  HEROES  OF  METHODISM. 


he  might  explain  the  cause  of  his  detention,  or  lay  ninepence 
on  the  secretary's  table,  to  be  put  with  the  conference 
collection. 

"  Brother  H.  supposed  this  was  for  him,  and  prepared  a 
speech,  and  came  late  next  morning,  and  took  a  short  slip 
at  the  left  hand  of  the  president.  One  said,  '  Brother  H. 
appears  to  have  forgotten  the  vote  yesterday.'  He  started 
to  his  feet,  and,  with  a  graceful  bow,  said,  '  Mr.  President, 
I  was  aware  that  the  Church  of  Rome  had  incorporated  the 
laws  of  penance  into  their  ecclesiastical  economy ;  but  I 
never  knew,  until  yesterday,  that  the  Methodists  had  adopted 
the  system;  but — '  The  bishop  saw  what  was  coming; 
he  turned,  and  beckoning  to  him  with  his  left  hand,  said, 
'Brother,  pause  just  one  moment'  Then  looking  round,  he 
said,  '  You  who  will  give  brother  Hubbard  liberty  to  come 
and  go  at  his  pleasure,  raise  your  hands.'  Hands  went  up  as 
by  enchantment.  He  turned  to  him,  '  There,  brother  Hub- 
bard, the  matter  is  all  settled ;  we  shall  not  need  your  speech 
now ;'  and  casting  his  eyes  upon  his  book,  '  "We  will  pro- 
ceed in  the  business,'  while  brother  H.  stood,  and  looked 
this  way  and  that,  but  saw  no  way  by  which  to  get  off  his 
speech,  and  finally  took  his  seat. 

"  I  mention  this  as  a  specimen  of  his  unwillingness  to  have 
the  time  of  the  conference  wasted  upon  any  unimportant 
matters." — Rev.  Asa  Kent. 

ASBURY  AXD  JOHN  KLINE. 

Mr.  Kline  was  a  member  of  the  New- York  Conference, — 
a  good  preacher,  but  not  great, — a  man  of  very  sweet  spirit, 
esteeming  others  better  than  himself.  Rev.  Abner  Chase  says 
that  Bishop  Asbury  "used  to  keep  a  private  memorandum 
of  all  the  preachers  throughout  the  whole  connexion,  where- 
in he  noted  down  their  various  talents  and  qualifications  for 
the  work  of  the  ministry.  Brother  Kline  informed  me  that  he 
called  at  the  lodgings  of  the  bishop,  who  was  then  spending 


FRANCIS  ASBURY. 


a  few  days  in  the  city  of  New-York,  and  the  bishop,  stepping 
out  for  a  few  moments,  left  him  in  tlie  room  alone.  Seeing 
a  book  lying  upon  the  table  near  him,  he  took  it  up,  and 
opening  it,  the  first  thing  upon  which  his  eye  rested  was: 
'John  Kline,  a  man  of  small  preaching  talents,  but  thought 
to  be  very  pious  and  useful.'  He  did  not  seem  displeased 
at  the  discovery  of  the  estimate  made  of  his  preaching  tal- 
ents, but  went  cheerfully  on  his  work  for  several  following 
years." 

ASBURY  AND  THE  ROWDIES. 

"In  1812,  Bishop  Asbury,  with  Bishop  M'Kendree,  at- 
tended a  camp-meeting  at  Rushville,  Ohio. 

"  On  Saturday,  about  twenty  lewd  fellows  of  the  baser 
sort  raised  a  row.  They  had  come  upon  the  ground  intoxi- 
cated, vowing  they  would  break  up  the  meeting.  One  of 
the  preachers  went  to  the  leader  of  the  gang  to  induce  him 
to  leave  the  camp,  but  this  only  enraged  him  ;  he  struck  the 
preacher  a  violent  blow  on  the  face,  and  knocked  him  down. 
Here  the  conflict  began.  The  members  saw  they  must  either 
defend  themselves,  or  allow  the  ruffians  to  beat  them,  and 
insult  their  wives  and  daughters.  It  did  not  take  them  long 
to  decide.  They  very  soon  placed  themselves  in  an  attitude 
of  defence.  Brother  Birkhammer,  an  exceedingly  stout  man, 
seized  their  bully  leader,  who  had  struck  the  preacher,  and 
with  one  thrust  of  his  brawny  arm  crushed  him  down  be- 
tween two  benches.  The  aide-de-camp  of  the  bully  ran  to 
his  relief,  but  it  was  to  meet  the  same  fate.  Here  they  were 
held  in  durance  vile  till  the  sheriff  and  his  posse  came  and 
took  possession ;  and  binding  them,  with  ten  others,  they 
were  carried  before  a  justice,  who  fined  them  heavily  for 
their  misdemeanor." 

This  was  certainly  conquering  a  peace.  It  reminds  us  of 
the  old  gentleman  who  declared,  "  He  would  have  peace  in 
bis  house  if  he  had  to  fight  for  it." 

4 


68 


THE  HEEOES  OF  METHODISM. 


"As  soon  as  quiet  was  restored  Bisliop  Asbury  occupied 
the  pulpit.  After  singing  and  prayer  he  rose,  and  saying 
he  would  give  the  rowdies  some  advice,  addressed  them  in 
the  following  language :  '  You  must  remember  that  all  our 
brothers  in  the  Church  are  not  sanctified,  and  I  advise  you 
to  let  them  alone ;  for  if  you  get  them  angry,  and  the  devil 
should  get  in  them,  they  are  the  strongest  and  hardest  men  to 
fight  and  conquer  in  the  world.  I  advise  you,  if  you  do  not 
like  them,  to  go  home  and  let  them  alone.' 

"The  work  of  the  Lord  commenced  at  this  point,  and 
meetings  were  kept  up  without  intermission  till  Tuesday 
morning.  Over  one  hundred  were  converted  to  God,  and 
united  with  the  Church." — F'tnley^s  Autobiography. 

ASBURY  AND  SETH  MATTISON. 

The  Rev.  Abner  Chase  relates  the  following :  "  Our  con- 
ference (Genesee)  for  1813  was  held  in  Westmoreland, 
N.  Y.,  and  was  attended  by  Bishops  Asbury  and  M'Ken- 
dree.  The  former  exhibited  the  strength  of  habit  in  his  dis- 
approbation of  the  practice  which  had  very  generally  ob- 
tained among  the  preachers,  of  wearing  pantaloons.  Of  the 
whole  number  belonging  to  our  conference,  Seth  Mattison 
alone  wore  his  knee-buckles  and  gaiters,  Avhich  was  the 
bishop's  manner  of  dress.  On  the  arrival  of  brother  Matti- 
son the  bishop  manifested  his  approbation  of  his  costume  by 
embracing  him  most  cordially." 

ASBURY  ON  MINISTERIAL  POPULARITY. 

"  While  memory  lasts,"  says  Rev.  Henry  Smith,  "  I  never 
can  forget  a  lecture  our  venerable  Asbury  gave  us  a  great 
many  years  ago,  in  the  Baltimore  Conference,  on  popu- 
larity. 

"  He  related  a  case  of  a  Wesleyan  preacher  who  had  been 
sent  to  one  of  the  islands,  where  he  preached  the  Gospel 


FRANCIS  ASBURY. 


with  the  Holy  Ghost  sent  down  from  heaven,  and  great  was 
his  success ;  but  he  was  very  unpopular  and  dreadfully  per- 
secuted, perhaps  cast  into  prison.  But  he  bore  up  under 
all  this  like  a  primitive  Methodist  preacher ;  and  even  re- 
joiced that  he  was  worthy  to  suffer  persecution  for  Christ's 
sake.  The  climate,  his  excessive  labour,  together  with  his 
sufferings,  soon  wore  him  down  ;  and  he  came  to  America  to 
recover  his  health.  In  this  country  he  became  popular — 
very  popular  indeed. 

"  When  the  bishop  came  to  this  part  of  his  history  he 
half  closed  his  eyes,  and  raised  his  hand,  and  said :  '  The 
breath  of  the  people  came  down  upon  him,  and  he  sunk!' 
Yes,  he  sunk  low  enough.  Strange,  indeed,  that  the  breath 
of  the  people  in  this  land  of  liberty  should  prove  more  fatal 
to  the  preacher  than  rough  persecuting  hands  in  another 
pkce." 

According  to  this,  popularity  is  far  more  dangerous  to  a 
preacher  than  persecution. 

BISHOP  ASBURY  AND  THE  BRANDY  BOTTLE. 

Mr.  Asbury  was  remarkable  for  his  temperance.  He  was 
once  the  guest  of  a  very  genteel  family  who  were  profuse  in 
their  hospitalities.  At  dinner  a  decanter  of  brandy  was 
placed  upon  the  table,  and  he  was  invited  to  drink  by  the 
lady  of  the  house.  He  declined,  "believing  that  he  that 
striveth  for  the  mastery  is  temperate  in  all  things."  She 
blushed  and  said,  "  Bishop,  I  believe  that  brandy  is  good  in 
its  place."  "  So  do  T,"  said  Mr.  Asbury.  "  If  you  have  no 
objection,"  added  he,  taking  the  decanter,  "  I  will  put  it  in 
its  place ;"  so  he  put  it  in  the  old-fashioned  cupboard,  in  the 
corner  of  the  room,  saying  with  emphasis,  "  That  is  its  place, 
and  there  let  it  stay  And  there  it  did  stay,  never  to  be 
brought  on  the  table  again. 


10 


THE  HEROES  OF  METHODISM. 


BISHOP  ASBURY'S  REASON'S  FOR  CELIBACY. 

It  is  well  known  that  Bishop  Asbury,  like  Whatcoat  and 
M'Kendree,  was  never  married.  Xot  because  he  doubted 
the  declaration,  "  that  it  is  not  good  for  man  to  be 
alone;"  or  "that  marriage  is  honourable  in  the  sight  of 
all  men ;"  or  that  "  a  bishop  should  be  the  husband  of  one 
wife ;"  but  for  reasons  which  he  assigns  in  his  journal  as 
follows : 

"If  I  should  die  in  celibacy,  which  I  think  quite 
probable,  I  give  the  following  reasons  for  what  can  scarcely 
be  called  my  choice. 

"  I  was  called  in  ray  fourteenth  year ;  I  began  my  public 
exercises  between  sixteen  and  seventeen ;  at  twenty-one  I 
travelled  ;  at  twenty-six  I  came  to  America  :  thus  far  I  had 
reasons  for  single  life.  It  had  been  my  intention  to  re- 
turn to  Europe  at  thirty  years  of  age ;  but  the  war  con- 
tinued, and  it  was  ten  years  before  we  had  a  settled,  lasting 
peace :  this  was  no  time  to  marry,  or  to  be  given  in  mar- 
riage. 

"  At  forty-nine  I  was  ordained  Superintendent  Bishop  in 
America.  Among  the  duties  imposed  upon  me  by  my 
office  was  that  of  traveUing  extensively  ;  and  I  could  hardly 
expect  to  find  a  woman  with  grace  enough  to  enable  her  to 
live  but  one  week  out  of  the  fifty-two  with  her  husband ; 
besides,  what  right  has  any  man  to  take  advantage  of  the 
afi'ections  of  a  woman,  make  her  his  wife,  and  by  a  volun- 
tary absence  subvert  the  whole  order  and  economy  of  the 
marriage  state,  by  separating  those  whom  neither  God, 
nature,  nor  the  requirements  of  civil  society  permit  to  be  put 
asunder;  it  is  neither  just  nor  generous.  I  may  add  to  this, 
I  had  but  httle  money ;  and  with  this  little  administered  to 
the  necessities  of  a  beloved  mother  until  I  was  fifty-seven. 
If  I  have  done  wrong,  I  hope  God  and  the  sex  will  forgive 
me.    It  is  my  duty  now  to  bestow  the  pittance  I  have  to 


FRANCIS  ASBURY. 


71 


spare  upon  the  widows  and  fatherless  girls,  and  poor  mar- 
ried men." 

I  think  none  will  say  but  that  the  bishop's  reasons  were 
sufficient  to  justify  his  remaining  in  a  state  of  "single 
blessedness ;"  and  that  neither  the  fair  sex  nor  his  God  will 
condemn  him  for  pursuing  a  course  that  reason,  philosophy, 
prudence,  and  religion  dictated. 

Again,  the  bishop  said:  "If  St.  Paul  might  commend 
celibacy  in  the  present  distress,  might  I  not  take  him  for  a 
pattern,  rather  than  St.  Peter,  without  incurring  censure,  as 
being  in  favour  of  Papistical  celibacy  ?  But  if  I  have  not 
married  a  wife,  I  have,  as  a  son  of  Adam,  provided  for  a 
daughter  of  Eve — my  own  mother.  She  is  now  gone,  but 
I  have  adopted  one  in  her  stead." — James  Quinn. 

ASBURY  AND  THE  CHARITABLE  SOCIETY. 

Rev.  Abel  Stevens,  in  his  "  Sketches  and  Incidents,"  relates 
the  following  characteristic  anecdote  of  the  bishop : 

"He  was  frequently  humorous,  happy  at  repartee,  and 
always  ready  for  any  labour,  however  onerous  or  sudden. 
An  illustration  occurs  to  my  memory.    At  the  time  my 

friend,  E.  H.,  was  stationed  in  B  ,  knowing  that  he 

would  spend  a  night  there  on  his  way  to  the  L  Con- 
ference, he  made  an  arrangement  for  the  bishop  to  preach 
an  anniversary  sermon  for  a  charitable  society  just  struggling 
into  life,  and  advertised  the  appointment  as  extensively  as 
possible  in  the  public  prints.  Toward  evening  the  old  bishop 
arrived,  (knowing  nothing  of  the  appointment,)  wearied  with 
a  long  and  tedious  journey.  At  an  early  hour  the  house 
was  crowded.  The  services  commenced.  He  arose  and 
read  for  his  text,  2  Cor.  viii,  8,  "  I  speak  not  by  command- 
ment, but  by  occasion  of  the  forwardness  of  others,  and  to 
prove  the  sincerity  of  your  love."  The  felicity  of  the  text  and 
of  the  discourse  was  universally  observed." 


72 


THE  HEROES  OF  METHODISM. 


FRANCIS  ASBURY'S  LAST  SERMON  IN  ENGLAND. 

The  Rev.  James  Quinn  gives  the  following  touching  reminis- 
cence of  Bishop  Asbuiy : 

"  Said  the  bishop,  '  The  state  of  the  preacher's  mind,  in 
connexion  with  surrounding  circumstances,  often  suggests 
the  texts  and  the  method  of  discussion.  .  Thus,  when  I  had 
oflfered  for  America,  and  had  been  accepted  and  appointed, 
taking  leave  of  my  parents,  the  loving  society,  and  my  native 
land,  I  stood  up  and  took  for  my  text,  Psalm  Ixi,  2  :  "  From 
the  end  of  the  earth  will  I  cry  unto  thee,"  etc.    My  plan : 

"  '  1.  Where  should  the  missionary  herald  be  ?  The  end 
of  the  earth. 

"  '  2.  And  whose  heart  should  be  overwhelmed,  swallowed 
up,  if  not  the  heart  of  him  to  whom  a  dispensation  of  the 
Gospel  is  committed  ? 

"  '  3.  And  whence  should  he  look  for  succour  but  to  Christ, 
the  rock  that  is  higher  than  he? 

"  '  4.  How  should  he  obtain  that  succour  but  by  constant, 
fervent  prayer  ? 

" '  Ah !'  said  the  good  bishop,  as  we  rode  along,  *  this 
might  not  have  been  of  high  interest  to  the  hearers,  but  it 
has  been  of  vast  interest  and  importance  to  the  speaker; 
for  often  has  my  heart  been  overwhelmed  during  my  forty 
years'  pilgrimage  in  America.  And  if  I  had  been  a  man 
of  tears,  I  might  have  wept  my  life  away ;  but  Christ  has 
been  a  hiding-place,  a  covert  from  the  stormy  blast ;  yea, 
he  has  been  the  shadow  of  a  great  rock  in  a  weary  land.' 
Here  the  bishop's  voice  trembled  a  little — his  lip  quivered — 
I  looked,  and  the  tear  had  started  from  his  half-closed,  clear 
blue  eye.  But  presently  he  was  gay ;  '  for,'  said  he,  '  if  J 
were  not  sometimes  to  be  gay  with  my  friends,  I  should 
have  died  in  gloom  long  ago. 

«' '  Give  me  to  feel  the  grateful  heart, 
And  without  guilt  be  gay.' " 


FRANCIS  ASBURY. 


BISHOP  ASBURY  SOWING  GOOD  SEED. 

When  the  bishop  was  old,  and  pressed  down  by  many 
infirmities,  when  the  "  ahuond-tree  was  flourishing,  and 
those  that  look  out  of  the  windows  were  darkened,  the 
grinders  ceasing  because  they  were  few,  and  the  keepers  of 
the  house  began  to  tremble,"  his  brethren  wished  him  to 
retire,  as  God  had  raised  up  many  strong  men;  but  the 
bishop,  like  the  apostolic  Wesley,  did  not  wish  "  to  live  to 
be  useless,"  and  replied,  "  No  man  can  do  my  work."  For- 
ward he  would  go  in  his  Master's  employment ;  and  though 
he  was  not  able  to  preach  as  formerly,  he  would  place  a 
number  of  Bibles  in  his  wagon  and  distribute  them,  saying, 
"  Now  I  know  I  am  solving  good  seed.''^ 

Yes,  the  sainted  Asbury  was  sowing  good  seed — the 
seed  of  truth,  which  no  doubt  will  produce  a  glorious  har- 
vest. "For  he  that  goeth  forth  weeping,  bearing  precious 
seed,  shall  doubtless  come  again  with  rejoicing,  bringing  his 
sheaves  witb  him." 

BISHOP  ASBURY'S  LAST  SERMON. 

As  Bishop  Asbury  was  making  his  last  annual  tour  around 
his  large  diocese,  he  felt  that  the  shadows  of  evening  were 
gathering  around  him,  when  he  could  no  longer  work. 
After  riding  forty-three  miles  one  day,  over  a  very  rough 
road,  he  records  in  his  Journal :  "  This  will  not  do ;  I  must 
halt  or  order  my  graveP  But  on  he  went  in  his  Master's 
work.  He  was  literally  worn  out  with  labour,  and  wasting 
away  from  disease;  but  his  great  soul  was  strong  and 
vigorous  as  ever,  and  he  was  still  anxious  to  preach  "Jesus 
and  the  resurrection."  Impelled  onward  by  an  ardent  desire 
to  be  useful,  which  had  moved  him  forward  for  more  than 
half  a  century,  he  continued  journeying  from  one  place  to 
another  with  his  faithful  travelling  companion.  Rev.  John 
W.  Bond,  till  he  came  to  Richmond,  Virginia;  and  there 


74 


THE  HEROES  OF  3IETH0DISM. 


preached  his  last  sermon,  March  24th,  1810,  in  the  old 
Methodist  church.  Before  the  bishop  entered  the  pulpit, 
some  of  his  friends  tried  to  persuade  him  not  to  preach,  as 
he  was  so  feeble  in  body ;  but  all  in  vain.  The  old  hero 
was  anxious  to  make  another  effort  to  wield  the  sword  of 
the  Spirit  once  more,  in  the  name  of  the  God  of  battles. 
He  said,  "  God  had  given  him  a  work  to  do  there,  and  he 
must  deliver  his  testimony."  They  then  yielded  to  his 
desire.  He  was  so  feeble  that  he  could  neither  walk  nor 
stand,  so  they  carried  him  from  his  carriage  to  the  house  of 
God,  and  then  into  the  pulpit,  and  seated  him  on  a  table ; 
and  the  aged,  trembling,  dying  minister  delivered,  in  falter- 
ing accents,  his  last  message  to  a  lost  world.  His  text  was, 
"  For  he  will  finish  the  work,  and  cut  it  short  in  righteous- 
ness :  because  a  short  work  will  he  make  on  the  earth." 
Romans  ix,  28.  He  frequently  paused,  during  his  sermon, 
to  recover  breath  and  strength  ;  and  these  very  pauses  made 
his  sermon — of  an  hour's  length — more  weighty  and  im- 
pressive. We  cannot  wonder  that  the  audience  were  deeply 
affected,  for  the  scene  was  peculiarly  touching.  They  were 
listening  to  an  old  pilgrim,  whose  feet  were  already  wet  with 
Jordan's  water,  and  who  was  about  to  cross  the  river.  They 
were  beholding  the  venerable  Methodist  patriarch,  whose 
beautiful  silver  locks  indicated  his  weight  of  years,  which 
were  adorning  the  sanctuary  for  the  last  time — one  whose 
pale  cheeks,  and  sunken  eyes,  and  trembling  limbs,  pro- 
claimed to  those  who  heard  him  that  his  end  was  nigh  ;  and 
yet,  amid  all  the  melancholy  symptoms  of  decay,  to  see  his 
soul  rising  above  the  infirmities  of  nature — his  aged,  wrinkled, 
pallid  countenance  glowing  with  celestial  splendour,  and  his 
fading  eye  shooting  forth  the  fires  of  immortality — must  have 
been  a  scene  of  surpassing  beauty,  grandeur,  and  sublimity, 
such  as  earth  seldom  witnesses,  such  as  angels  delight  to 
behold.  He  was  then  carried  out  of  the  pulpit,  to  enter  it 
no  more.  The  next  Sabbath  he  bade  adieu  to  earth,  and 
entered  into  the  "joy  of  his  Lord." 


REY.  THOMAS  COKE,  LL.  D. 


THE  REV.  THOMAS  COKE,  LL.  D. 


Thomas  Coke  was  one  of  the  most  remarkable  of  that  band 
of  heroes  that  sprung  up  about  John  Wesley.  His  life, 
if  fully  written,  would  read  like  a  tale  of  chivalry.  The 
facts  of  his  career  are  well  given  in  his  biography  by 
Samuel  Drew;  but,  like  Wesley,  he  has  yet  to  find  a 
fitting  and  adequate  biographer. 

He  was  born  in  174Y,  at  Brecon,  South  Wales,  where  his 
father  was  a  surg-eon  of  distinguished  eminence.  He  was  an 
only  child,  and  great  care  was  taken  of  his  education.  At 
sixteen  he  went  to  Oxford,  where  he  completed  his  education 
at  Jesus  College.  Here  he  fell  into  irreligious  society,  and  his 
mind  was  fast  tending  toward  scepticism,  when  his  progress 
in  that  direction  was  arrested  by  the  reading  of  "  Sherlock's 
Discourses,"  and  of  "  Witherspoon  on  Regeneration." 

In  1*775  he  became  curate  of  Petherton,  but  was  soon 
dismissed  by  his  rector,  as  being  "  pious  overmuch."  He 
had  his  first  interview  with  Mr.  Wesley  August  13  th,  IVYG ; 
and  his  name  first  appears  in  the  Minutes  of  the  British 
Conference  in  lYYS.  On  the  2d  of  September,  1784, 
'he  was  ordained  by  Mr.  Wesley  as  Superintendent  of  the 
Methodist  Society  in  America ;  and  he  sailed  for  this  coun- 
try on  the  eighteenth  of  the  same  month.  Dr.  Coke  was 
the  first  bishop  of  the  Methodist  Church  in  America.  The 
-  American  Methodists  owe  him  a  debt  of  gratitude ;  for  he 
crossed  the  Atlantic  Ocean  no  less  than  eighteen  times,  at 
his  own  expense,  to  serve  his  American  brethren.  His  benevo- 
lence was  unbounded.  He  did  not  live  for  himself.  He  was 
the  pioneer  in  the  cause  of  modern  missions.  On  the  30th  of 
l^ecember,  1813,  he  sailed  for  the  East  Indies,  to  establish  a 


78 


THE  HEKOES  OF  METHODISM. 


mission  in  Ceylon.  On  the  3d  of  May,  1814,  he  was  found 
dead  in  his  cabin,  lying  on  the  floor.  Sudden  death,  but  sud- 
den glory.  His  body  was  committed  to  the  deep  that  day, 
there  to  remain  till  the  "  sea  gives  up  its  dead."  The  doctor, 
when  he  died,  was  in  the  sixty-seventh  year  of  his  age. 

Bishop  x\sbury  preached  a  funeral  sermon  in  reference  to 
him  before  the  New- York  Conference,  and  at  their  request,  in 
Albany,  May  12th,  1815.  He  bore  ample  testimony  to  the 
purity  of  character,  the  Christian  and  ministerial  virtues  of 
his  friend  and  colleague.  He  said,  "Dr.  Coke  was  of  the 
third  branch  of  the  Oxonian  Methodists,  of  blessed  mmd 
and  soul, — a  gentleman,  a  scholar,  and  a  bishop  to  us; 
as  a  minister  of  Christ,  in  zeal,  in  labours,  and  in  services, 
the  greatest  man  of  the  last  century." 

His  personal  appearance  is  thus  described  by  his  biographer : 
"  Dr.  Coke  was  low  in  stature,  and  as  he  advanced  in  age 
was  inclined  to  corpulency ;  but  he  was  finely  proportioned, 
and  exhibited  a  pleasing  figure.  His  skin  was  remarkably 
fair ;  his  eyes  were  dark,  lively,  and  piercing.  His  hair  bor- 
dered on  black  until  his  declining  yeai-s,  when  it  became 
sprinkled  with  the  hoar  of  age.  His  face  was  particularly 
handsome.  A  peculiar  freshness,  through  every  stage  of 
life,  distinguished  his  countenance,  which  was  generally 
animated  with  an  engaging  smile.  These,  hi  their  combined 
efiect,  gave  to  the  whole  a  degree  of  expressive  softness 
that  refined  the  masculine  features  without  reducing  them 
to  a  state  of  effeminacy.  His  voice  corresponded  with 
his  appearance.  It  was  soft,  engaging,  and  melodious; 
and  unless  carried  beyond  its  natural  tone — when  it  became 
rather  harsh  and  dissonant — it  rarely  failed  to  captivate 
those  who  heard  it.  To  his  enthusiastic  admirers  he  seemed 
to  want  nothing  but  wings  to  become  an  angel." 

The  following  description  of  Dr.  Coke,  by  the  Rev.  Joshua 
Marsden,  is  truthful  and  beautiful,  and  I  cannot  withhold  it 
from  the  reader : — 

"  Where  is  the  man  in  the  present  age  who  has  done  as 


THOMAS  COKE. 


much  fbr  the  cause  of  God  as  Thomas  Coke?  Who  has 
travelled  more  miles  ?  Who  has  oftener  crossed  the  Atlantic 
Ocean  to  carry  the  light  of  salvation  to  the  Western  world  ? 
Who  has,  with  such  a  spirit  of  condescending  charity,  laid 
aside  the  gentleman,  the  philosopher,  and  the  scholar,  to  teach 
negro  slaves,  and  soften,  by  the  healing  balm  of  salvation,  the 
rigours  of  their  captivity  ?  Who  has  more  cheerfully  borne 
the  burning  sun  of  the  equator,  or  the  rage  of  the  marine 
tempest,  that  he  might  carry  the  consolations  of  peace  to 
thousands  of  the  distressed  ?  Witness,  ye  mighty  forests  of 
the  Western  world  !  witness  how  often  Coke,  amid  the  silence 
of  the  sylvan  temple,  has  called  the  cottagers  of  the  wilder- 
ness beneath  the  shade  of  some  spreading  maple,  to  behold 
the  sinner's  Friend.  He  preached  the  Gospel  from  the  Mis- 
sissippi to  the  Bay  of  Penobscot,  and  from  the  Chesapeake 
to  the  waters  of  the  Ohio.  Where  is  the  man  who  was 
more  lavish  of  life,  more  abundant  in  labours,  or  more  willing 
to  suffer  ?  To  the  ardour  of  a  seraph  he  added  the  wings  of 
a  dove ;  and  besides  crossing  the  Atlantic  Ocean  eighteen  times, 
how  often  has  he  crossed  the  turbulent  British  Channel  and 
Irish  Sea  !  Who  can  stand  up,  and  in  the  presence  of  Coke 
put  this  inscription  upon  his  own  brow  : — '  In  labours  more 
abundant  P  His  means  were  large ;  his  charity  was  larger ; 
but  his  heart  was  larger  than  all.  He  was  the  most  inde- 
fatigable missionary  that  this  or  any  former  age  has  pro- 
duced ;  and,  had  he  lived  in  times  of  greater  veneration  for 
such  labours,  he  might  have  been  canonized  for  a  saint  of  the 
first  class,  or  dignified  with  the  title  of  an  apostle.  To  the 
toil-degraded  African  he  was  an  unparalleled  benefactor; 
and  if  his  labours  to  succour  those  outcasts  of  man  are  not 
ranked  with  Clarkson's  and  Wilberforce's,  it  is  only  because 
they  are  less  known.  These  gentlemen  nobly  broke  their 
civil  chains ;  he  preached  deliverance  to  their  captive  souls, 
and  brought  thousands  of  them  into  the  glorious  liberty  of 
the  Son  of  God.  The  preaching  of  the  cross  was  a  darling 
object  of  his  heart,  and  few  manifested  equal  ardour  in  dis- 


80  THE  HEROES  OF  METHODISM. 

pensing  the  great  truths  of  salvation.  If  he  had  not  the 
commanding  and  irresistible  eloquence  of  a  Whitefield,  his 
discourses  were  impressive  and  affectionate ;  the  zeal  of  his 
life  was  not  the  blaze  of  a  meteor,  nor  the  coruscation  of  a 
northern  light ;  it  was  steady  as  the  brightness  of  a  lamp, 
and  constant  as  the  fire  of  the  Magi.  In  the  decline  of 
life  he  manifested  the  ardour  of  youth ;  and  ceased  not  to 
preach,  beg,  travel,  and  write,  with  unabated  diligence.  To 
the  foreign  missions  he  was  the  almoner  of  the  bounty  of 
thousands ;  and  if  he  wanted  that  correct,  calculating  pru- 
dence which  the  rigid  economy  of  a  Franklin  might  have 
suggested,  it  was  because  his  great  soul  considered  every 
pound  wisely  wasted  which  saved  an  immortal  spirit. 
Those  who  blamed  him  in  this  respect  never  moved  in  the 
same  sphere ;  and  those  who  slighted  him,  made  it  manifest 
that  they  valued  his  friendship  and  labour  much  less  than 
their  own  money.  He  was  a  drudge  of  charity ;  and  by 
the  warmth  of  his  solicitations  often  became  obtrusive  to  the 
parsimonious,  who,  afraid  of  their  purses,  wished  to  circum- 
scribe his  usefulness.  But  he  is  gone  to  answer  to  his 
own  Master  for  the  managen>ent  of  his  stewardship,  who,  I 
doubt  not,  has  put  his  valde  proho  upon  his  faithful  servant's 
labours,  and  graciously  welcomed  him  to  the  joy  of  his 
Lord." 


COKE'S  FIRST  INTERVIEW  WITH  ASBUEY. 

Dr.  Coke  first  landed  in  New- York  on  the  3d  of  Novem- 
ber, 1784.  Not  finding  Mr.  Asbury,  he  proceeded  south 
as  far  as  Delaware.  Here  he  was  kindly  entertained  by 
Mr.  Basset,  afterward  governor  of  the  state,  who  was  at 


THOMAS  COKE. 


81 


that  time  erecting  a  large  chapel,  at  his  own  expense,  for 
the  accommodation  of  the  preachers,  the  congregation,  and 
the  society.  Dr.  Coke  had  never  seen  Mr.  Asbury,  but  was 
very  desirous  to  meet  him,  as  he  had  a  message  from  Mr. 
"Wesley  to  Asbury,  and  as  they  were  to  be  yoke-fellows. 
On  Sunday  the  14th  he  went  to  the  chapel,  built  in  the  midst 
of  a  vast  forest,  in  which  an  unexpected  concourse  of  people 
assembled  from  every  quarter.  To  this  congregation  he 
preached,  and  administered  the  sacrament  to  between  five 
and  six  hundred  communicants.  Scarcely,  however,  had  he 
finished  his  sermon  before  he  perceived  a  plainly-dressed, 
robust,  but  venerable-looking  man  moving  through  the  con- 
gregation, and  making  his  way  toward  him.  On  ascending 
the  pulpit  he  clasped  the  doctor  in  his  arms ;  and,  without 
making  himself  known  by  words,  accosted  him  with  the  holy 
salutation  of  primitive  Christianity.  This  venerable  and 
apostolic  man  was  the  excellent  and  laborious  Asbury. 
What  a  meeting  of  noble  souls,  of  large  hearts,  that  beat 
responsive  to  each  other,  and  each  responsive  to  the  great 
heart  of  Deity  !  What  a  mingling  and  commingHng  of  kin- 
dred spirits !  "What  a  scene  for  a  painter's  pencil !  What 
a  sight  to  gladden  the  eyes  of  angels,  and  to  cause  joy  in 
the  bosoms  of  seraphs ! 

They  were  both  overjoyed ;  and  while  they  encircled  each 
other  in  the  arms  of  Christian  friendship,  and  saluted  each  ^ 
other  with  "a  holy  kiss,"  the  scene  affected  the  audience, 
and  they  were  baptized  with  tears.  Mr.  Asbury  had  heard 
of  Dr.  Coke's  arrival,  and  expected  to  find  him  at  the  forest- 
chapel,  and  was  not  disappointed.  Since  that  time  what 
has  God  wrought! 

COKE  AND  THE  USEFUL  BOOK. 

"  Dr.  Coke  was  travelling  in  Virginia  in  1785  ;  he  happened 
to  call  at  a  house  where  resided  a  mother  and  seven  sons, 
and  their  wives.    At  this  time  the  whole  family  were  igno- 


82 


THE  HEROES  OF  METHODISM. 


rant  of  Methodism  and  ignorant  of  God.  On  leaving  their 
house,  Dr.  Coke  presented  them  with  an  extract  of  Mr.  Law's 
Treatise  on  the  Nature  and  Design  of  Christianity.  The 
perusal  of  this  book  had  such  an  effect  on  their  minds,  that 
the  whole  family  were  stirred  up  to  seek  the  Lord.  The 
result  was,  that  the  mother,  her  sons,  and  their  wives, — 
making  fifteen  in  all, — were  converted  to  God,  and  be- 
came members  of  the  Methodist  society.  One  of  the 
family  became  a  preacher.  Six  years  after  Dr.  Coke  met 
the  young  man, — who  had  been  converted  and  called  to  the 
work  of  the  ministry, — and  received  from  him  an  account 
of  the  conversion  of  the  whole  family ;  and  he  was  thus 
encouraged  to  cast  his  bread  upon  the  waters,  expecting  to 
find  it  after  many  days." 

COKE  AND  THE  SLANDERER  OF  JOHN  WESLEY. 

The  enemies  of  Methodism  not  only  slandered  the  charactei 
of  John  Wesley  while  living,  but  would  not  let  him  rest  in 
the  grave  when  dead.  Not  long  after  Mr.  Wesley's  death, 
which  took  place  in  1*791,  Dr.  Coke's  attention  was  arrested 
by  a  pamphlet  professing  to  give  a  short  history  of  Wes- 
ley's life,  and  to  derive  its  information  from  authentic 
sources.  This  pamphlet,  which  was  not  destitute  of  lit- 
4  eraiy  merit,  nor  deficient  in  those  ingredients  which  tra- 
duction always  finds  it  needful  to  employ  in  the  garb  of 
plausibility,  soon  found  among  the  dissolute  and  the  gay 
a  number  of  admirers,  who  gladly  availed  themselves  of 
the  sanction  it  afibrded  to  lessen  Wesley's  reputation, 
by  retailing  the  stories  which  it  contained.  Among 
other  things,  the  author  published  two  letters,  which  he 
declared  to  be  the  genuine  production  of  Mr.  Wesley's  pen, 
addressed  to  a  young  lady  on  the  subject  of  love,  at  a 
time  when  he  was  far  advanced  in  years,  and  when  all  his 
friends  had  beheld  him  making  preparations  for  leaving  the 
world.    These  letters  contained  nothing  which  the  world 


THOMAS  COKE. 


SB 


would  call  dishonourable ;  but,  being  written  in  a  peculiar 
strain  of  canting  gallantry,  they  excited  much  notice,  and, 
in  the  estimation  of  those  who  believed  their  authenticity, — 
to  insure  which  every  artifice  was  employed, — they  greatly 
injured  Mr.  Wesley's  character.  From  this  pamphlet,  these 
letters  found  their  way  into  many  of  the  London  and 
provincial  papers,  and  in  some  publications  they  continue 
to  be  circulated  until  the  present  time.  To  prevent  all 
suspicion  of  their  authenticity,  the  author  declared  that 
the  original  letters,  in  the  handwriting  of  Mr.  Wesley, 
were  then  in  his  possession,  and  that  they  should  be 
open  to  the  inspection  of  any  person  who  would  call  at 
a  given  place  to  examine  them.  With  this  open  decla- 
ration many  were  satisfied ;  but  others,  who  continue 
incredulous,  actually  called.  Unfortunately,  however,  they 
always  happened  to  call  either  when  the  author  was  en- 
gaged, or  when  he  was  from  home,  or  when  these  original 
letters  were  lent  for  the  inspection  of  others !  It  so  happened, 
that  though  they  were  always  open  for  examination,  they 
could  never  be  seen.  Ten  years  had  passed  away  from  the 
first  appearance  of  this  publication  before  the  secret  was 
disclosed.  In  the  interim,  those  who  had  been  interested  in 
the  issue,  after  being  divided  between  credulity  and  dis- 
belief, had  suffered  the  afi'air  to  rest  in  peace ;  but  peace 
was  not  the  portion  allotted  to  the  author.  Stung  with 
remorse  for  having  wronged  the  character  of  a  worthy 
man,  he  voluntarily  sent  to  Dr.  Coke  the  following  letter 
dated 

London,  Jan.  2ith,  1801. 
"  Rev.  Sir  : — As  the  author  of  a  silly  pamphlet  published 
some  years  ago,  entitled  '  An  Impartial  Review  of  the  Life 
and  Writings  of  the  Rev.  John  Wesley,'  I  have  taken  the 
liberty  of  addressing  you  on  the  subject,  for  the  purpose  of 
disburdening  my  mind,  in  some  degree,  of  that  intolerable 
weight  with  which  it  has  been  oppressed,  in  consequence  of 
the  folly  and  wicked  tendency  of  that  publication ;  and  I  now 


84 


THE  HEROES  OF  METHODISM. 


candidly  declare  to  you  and  the  world,  that  most  of  the  pre- 
tended facts  are  groundless,  the  charges  sometimes  false,  and 
the  characters,  as  delineated  therein,  both  of  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Wesley  and  others,  are  generally  unjust,  and  unsanctioned 
even  by  my  own  opinion,  &c.    Your  humble  servant, 

"J.  Collet. 

"P.  S. — I  forgot  to  say  that  the  two  infamous  letters  in 
the  pamphlet,  attributed  to  Mr.  Wesley,  are  fictitious,  being 
the  invention  of  my  own  disordered  imagination.    J.  C." 

Dr.  Coke's  anxiety  to  make  this  letter  public  was  not  less 
ardent  than  his  joy  in  receiving  it.  He  wrote  to  Mr.  Collet, 
requesting  of  him  liberty  to  send  copies  of  his  letter  into  the 
world,  through  the  medium  of  the  press — that  where  the 
poison  had  been  diffused,  the  antidote  might  follow.  Mr. 
Collet  complied  with  his  request.  These  letters  were 
accordingly  made  public  in  newspapers  and  periodicals. 
This  account  shows  the  readiness  of  Dr.  Coke  to  vindicate 
the  character  of  his  deceased  friend,  and  his  high  sense  of 
honour  in  omitting  to  publish  them  till  he  had  obtained 
permission  from  their  author ;  and,  above  all,  it  exhibits  to 
others  the  power  of  conscience,  even  after  many  years  had 
elapsed  between  the  crime  committed  and  the  confession 
which  it  extorted. 

COKE  ON  ALTERING  AN  ARTICLE  OF  FAITH. 

In  the  General  Conference  of  1804,  a  member,  who  wished 
the  Eighth  Article  of  our  Discipline  to  "  be  made  plain,  so 
that  it  could  be  understood,"  having  neither  the  fear  nor 
the  knowledge  of  Latin  before  his  eyes,  offered  a  resolution 
to  substitute  "assisting"  for  "preventing."  The  proposition 
took  Dr.  Coke  so  entirely  by  surprise  that  he  lost  control  of 
himself  for  a  moment,  and  cried  out,  with  his  shrill,  piercing 
voice^  "The  brother's  a fooV 


THOMAS  COKE. 


85 


COKE  AND  MISS  SMITH. 

In  pursuit  of  gold  for  the  mission,  he  obtained  something 
better  than  gold.  Solomon  says,  "Whoso  findeth  a  wife, 
findeth  a  good  thing,  and  obtaineth  fovour  of  the  Lord." 
The  doctor  was  passing  through  England,  raising  from 
various  persons  funds  for  missions.  In  1805  he  visited 
Bristol.  Mr.  Pawson  advised  him  to  call  on  a  Miss  Smith,  a 
lady  who  was  at  once  generous  and  rich  ;  but  who  was  indis- 
posed, and  was  then  at  the  Hot  Wells  for  the  recovery  of  her 
health.  Mr.  Pawson  introduced  him  to  her.  Dr.  Coke  hav- 
ing stated  his  object.  Miss  Smith,  with  a  countenance  beam- 
ing with  generosity,  immediately  subscribed  one  hundred 
guineas;  but  observed  that,  as  at  that  moment  she  had  no 
money  to  spare,  she  would  thank  Dr.  Coke  to  call  on  her  at 
Bradford,  when  she  would  pay  her  subscription.  At  the  same 
time  she  invited  him  and  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Pawson  to  dine  with 
her  in  Bristol,  with  which  invitation  they  complied,  and 
found  her  soul  truly  alive  to  God.  Astonished  at  the  gift, 
which  became  enhanced  in  its  value  by  the  manner  in 
which  it  was  bestowed,  Dr.  Coke  remained  some  moments 
absorbed  in  silent  admiration,  on  the  discovery  of  one 
hundred  guineas  being  added  to  her  name;  and  found 
himself  at  a  loss  for  language  to  express  the  gratitude 
of  his  heart  for  this  evidence  of  her  strong  attachment 
to  the  cause  of  God.  He  called  afterward  for  the  one 
hundred  guineas,  and  he  was  overjoyed  when  she  gave  him 
two  hundred. 

This  led  to  a  more  intimate  acquaintance ;  and  in  April, 
1805,  she  was  no  longer  Miss  Smith,  but  Mrs.  Dr.  Coke. 
A  very  suitable  companion — a  helpmeet,  indeed.  She  had 
not  only  wealth,  which  was  consecrated  to  God,  but 
was  amiable  as  well  as  deeply  pious.  The  doctor  went  to 
advance  the  missionary  interests,  and  he  promoted  his  own ; 
he  went  after  gold,  and  found  a  diamond  of  unusual 


86 


THE  HEROES  OF  METHODISM. 


brilliancy.  "  Who  can  find  a  virtuous  woman  ?  for  her  price 
is  far  above  rubies."  "  Favour  is  deceitful  and  beauty  is 
vain,  but  a  woman  that  feareth  the  Lord,  she  shall  be 
praised." 

But  the  doctor  was  called  to  mourn  her  departure,  and  to 
learn  "  that  they  that  have  wives  will  be  as  if  they  had 
none."  She  died  on  the  25th  of  January,  1811.  The  doc- 
tor says  in  her  epitaph,  among  other  things,  "  She  fed  the 
poor  by  her  bounty,  and  instructed  the  rich  by  her  example." 

COKE  A  JONAH. 

Dr.  Coke  sailed  with  other  missionaries  for  Halifax.  It  was 
a  perilous  voyage.  Storm  followed  storm,  and  hurricane 
succeeded  hurricane.  During  the  succession  of  storms.  Dr. 
Coke  and  his  associates  addressed  themselves  to  God  in 
prayer  for  the  preservation  of  the  ship,  and  of  the  lives  of  all 
on  board. 

The  captain,  instead  of  approving  of  their  piety  or  joining 
in  their  devotions,  became  visibly  agitated,  and  betrayed 
symptoms  of  an  approaching  storm  within,  attributing  the 
calamities  with  which  they  were  surrounded  to  the  means 
made  use  of  to  avert  the  growing  danger.  At  first  he  pa- 
raded the  deck,  muttering,  in  a  species  of  audible  whisper, 
"We  have  a  Jonah  on  board," — "We  have  a  Jonah  on 
board  ;"  and,  consequently,  it  was  natural  for  hira  to  conclude 
that  a  Jonah's  conduct  deserved  a  Jonah's  fate.  In  this 
condition  he  continued  until  his  fears,  superstition,  credulity, 
and  agitation  had  wound  hira  up  to  such  a  state  of  frenzy 
that  he  entered  the  doctor's  cabin,  and,  in  a  paroxysm  of  fury, 
seizing  his  books  and  papers,  threw  them  immediately  into 
the  sea.  He  was  about  to  proceed  further ;  but  on  seizing 
"  the  Jonah,"  he  satiated  his  vengeance  by  grasping  him 
with  angry  violence  several  times,  and  by  giving  loose  to  his 
passions  in  expressions  of  horrible  imprecations.  He  did 
not  oflFer  him  any  further  outrage ;  yet  on  retiring  he  swore 


THOMAS  COKE. 


81 


that,  if  the  doctor  made  another  prayer  on  board  his  ship,  he 
was  fully  resolved  to  throw  him  into  the  sea. 

But  this  gust  of  passion  was  of  no  long  continuance. 
The  removal  of  danger  soothed  the  spirit  of  superstition  to 
rest,  and  the  cessation  of  the  storm  without  reduced  to  a 
calm  the  tempest  that  raged  within. 

During  all  this  the  doctor  was  tranquil,  feeling  that 
Christ  was  in  the  vessel,  and  that  he  had  an  interest  in  the 
Ruler  of  the  storm,  who  could  say  to  the  winds  and  waves, 
"  Peace,  be  still." 

COKE  PKODUCINQ  A  CALM. 

On  the  6th  of  February,  1797,  Dr.  Coke  sailed  for  Europe 
from  Charleston.  The  vessel  was  driven  by  a  favourable  wind 
across  the  Atlantic,  and  brought  into  the  mouth  of  the  Irish 
Channel  in  twenty-five  days.  But  the  waves  were  so  vio- 
lent as  to  carry  away  the  bulwarks  on  both  sides  of  the 
vessel,  so  that  the  doctor  durst  not  make  his  appearance 
on  deck  during  this  tempestuous  voyage.  One  extreme 
often  follows  another.  This  tremendous  storm  was  suc- 
ceeded by  a  wonderful  calm,  which  lasted  sixteen  days, 
during  fourteen  of  which  they  saw  no  vessel  of  any 
description.  This  continued  calm  the  captain  attributed 
to  Dr.  Coke's  reading  a  folio  volume  which  he  had  on 
board.  In  the  early  stages  of  the  calm  he  would  some- 
times hint  his  wishes  that  the  book  were  finished.  At 
length,  being  impelled  more  violently  by  a  tide  of  super- 
stition, than  his  vessel  was  by  the  natural  breezes,  he 
exclaimed  in  unequivocal  terras,  "  We  shall  never  have  a 
wind  until  that  book  is  finished  1"  "  Sir,  I  will  put  it 
aside,"  replied  Dr.  Coke.  "  No,"  rejoined  the  captain, 
"  that  will  not  do ;  it  must  be  finished,  or  we  shall  have 
no  wind."  Dr.  Coke  continued  reading.  "  I  doubt  not,"  he 
observes,  "  that  the  captain  was  somewhat  confirmed  in  his 
opinion ;  for  just  as  I  had  finished  the  book  the  wind 


88 


THE  HEROES  OF  METHODISM. 


sprung  up,  and  in  six  and  thirty  hours  brought  us  into 
harbour." 

COKE  AND  THE  CAPTAIN. 

Dr.  Coke  was  in  the  habit  of  making  personal  apphca- 
tion  for  money  to  sustain  the  cause  of  missions.  Some- 
times he  would  succeed  where  he  did  not  expect  to,  and 
again  men  would  refuse  him  where  he  had  no  doubt  of  suc- 
cess. A  singular  incident  of  this  description  occun-ed  near 
Plymouth,  England.  He  called  one  day  on  the  captain  of  a 
man-of-war  who  resided  there,  and  introduced  the  case  of 
the  negroes  in  such  an  affecting  manner  as  to  prevail  upon 
him  to  give  a  sum  much  larger  than  he  expected.  This  he 
gratefully  received  and  retired.  The  captain,  who  knew 
nothing  of  Dr.  Coke,  happened,  in  the  course  of  the  day,  to 
call  on  a  gentleman  who  had  long  resided  in  the  place,  and 
to  whom  Dr.  Coke  had  frequently  made  successful  applica- 
tions. After  conversing  together  for  some  time, ' '  Pray,  sir," 
said  the  captain,  "  do  you  know  anything  of  a  little  fellow 
who  calls  himself  Dr.  Coke,  and  who  is  going  about  beg- 
ging money  for  missionaries  to  be  sent  among  the  slaves  ?" 
"  I  know  him  well,"  was  the  reply.  "  He  seems,"  rejoined 
the  captain,  "  to  be  a  heavenly -minded  little  devil.  He 
coaxed  me  out  of  two  guineas  this  morning." 

COKE  BOUGHT  AT  HIS  OWN  PRICE. 

It  was  a  favourite  maxim  of  Dr.  Coke,  as  well  as  Sir  Robert 
Walpole,  that  every  man  might  be  purchased,  if  the  person 
intending  to  buy  him  could  find  his  price.  Whether  this 
be  a  libel  on  human  nature,  as  some  have  contended,  forms 
no  part  of  the  present  inquiry;  but  it  is  certain  that  Dr. 
Coke,  in  adopting  it,  was  far  from  being  singular. 

One  day,  having  advanced  this  proposition  before  a  crowd- 
ed congregation,  he  was  requested,  on  the  conclusion  of  the 


THOMAS  COKE. 


89 


service  by  some  persons  present,  who  belonged  to  a  town 
about  six  miles  distant,  to  visit  their  place  and  preach.  His 
route  being  fixed  in  his  own  mind,  and  this  town  not  lying 
in  his  way,  he  refused  to  comply  with  their  request. 

Being  unwilling  to  abandon  their  object  for  a  solitary  re- 
pulse, they  consulted  together  to  contrive  how  they  should 
proceed  in  their  second  attack  so  as  to  insure  success.  In 
this  consultation  it  was  observed  by  one,  "  The  doctor  told 
us  in  his  sermon  that  every  man  was  to  be  purchased,  if  the 
buyer  could  find  his  price.  Let  us  tell  him,  that  if  he  will 
come  we  will  hold  ourselves  responsible  for  a  good  collection 
for  the  missions.  Perhaps  this  may  purchase  him."  His 
friends,  assenting  to  this  proposition,  agreed  to  make  the 
attempt,  and  the  writer  of  this  anecdote  was  delegated  by 
them  to  introduce  their  contrivance  to  Dr.  Coke.  On  hear- 
ing the  manner  in  which  they  had  applied  his  own  principle 
to  himself,  he  could  not  but  smile.  He  paused  for  a  few 
moments,  and  then,  with  joy  sparkling  in  his  eyes,  exclaimed, 
"  They  have  hit  upon  it  most  eflfectually ;  this  is  exactly  my 
price,  and  I  will  endeavour  to  go  to-morrow."  He  went 
accordingly,  and  was  so  well  pleased  with  the  collection,  that 
in  most  of  his  future  visits,  Mevagissey,  in  Cornwall,  was 
included  in  his  route. 

COKE  AND  HIS  HOSTESS'S  FAMILY. 

Dr.  Coke,  in  attempting  to  cross  a  river,  when  in  America, 
missed  the  ford  and  got  into  deep  water.  He  and  his  horse 
were  carried  down  the  stream,  and  were  in  considerable  dan- 
ger; he  caught  hold  of  a  bough,  and  with  some  diflB- 
culty  got  upon  dry  land,  and  his  horse  was  carried  down  the 
stream.  After  drying  his  dothes  in  the  sun,  he  set  out  on 
foot,  and  at  length  met  a  man,  who  directed  him  to  the 

nearest  village,  telling  him  to  inquire  for  a  Mrs.  , 

from  whom  he  had  no  doubt  he  would  receive  the  kindest 
treatment.    Dr.  Coke  found  the  good  lady's  house,  and  re- 


90 


THE  HEROES  OF  METHODIS^t. 


ceived  all  the  kindness  and  attention  she  could  show  him ; 
messengers  were  sent  after  his  horse,  which  was  recovered 
and  brought  back.  The  next  morning  he  took  leave  of  his 
kind  hostess,  and  proceeded  on  his  journey.  After  a  lapse 
of  five  years  Dr.  Coke  was  again  in  America.  As  he  was 
on  his  way  to  one  of  the  conferences,  in  company  with  about 
thirty  other  persons,  a  young  man  requested  the  favour  of 
conversing  with  the  doctor,  and  with  Christian  politeness  he 
assented.  The  young  man  asked  him  if  he  recollected  being 
in  such  a  part  of  the  country  about  five  years  ago.  He  re- 
plied in  the  aflarmative.  "  And  do  you  recollect,  sir,  in  at- 
tempting to  cross  the  river,  being  nearly  drowned?"  "I 
remember  it  quite  well."  "  And  do  you  recollect  going  to 
the  house  of  a  widow  lady  in  such  a  village  ?"  "  I  remem- 
ber it  well,"  said  the  doctor ;  "  and  never  shall  forget  the 
kindness  she  showed  me."  "  And  do  you  remember,  when 
you  departed,  leaving  a  tract  at  that  lady's  house  ?"  "  I  do 
not  recollect  that,"  said  he ;  "  but  it  is  very  possible  I  might 
do  so."  "  Yes,  sir,"  said  the  young  man,  "  you  did  leave 
there  a  tract,  which  that  lady  read,  and  the  Lord  blessed  the 
reading  of  it  to  the  conversion  of  her  soul ;  it  was  also  the 
means  of  the  conversion  of  several  of  her  children  and 
neighbours,  and  there  is  now  in  that  village  a  flourishing  lit- 
tle society."  The  tears  of  Dr.  Coke  showed  something  of 
the  feelings  of  his  heart.  The  young  man  resumed :  "  I  have 
not,  sir,  quite  told  you  all.  I  am  one  of  that  lady's  children, 
and  owe  my  conversion  to  God  to  the  gracious  influence 
with  which  he  accompanied  that  tract  to  my  mind,  and  I  am 
now.  Dr.  Coke,  on  my  way  to  conference  to  be  proposed  as 
a  preacher." 


EEV.  WILLIAM  M'KEIDREE. 


5 


V 


Bishnp  of  the 


R«5  O^EWeiKEEo 


THE  REV.  WILLIAM  M'KENDREE. 


One  of  the  most  renowned  heroes  of  Methodism,  a  distin- 
guished leader  of  the  Lord's  host,  was  "William  M'Ken- 
DREE,  the  colleague  of  the  laborious  Asbury,  his  successor  in 
the  office  of  senior  bishop,  one  who  caught  the  falling  flag- 
staff from  the  palsied  hand  of  his  dying  father,  and  bore  it 
on  to  glory  and  to  victory.  M'Kendree  is  a  name  very 
dear  to  American  Methodists.  This  great  champion  for  the 
truth,  this  hero  of  a  hundred  battles,  this  conqueror  of  a 
thousand  foes,  is  one  whom  the  Church  delighted  to  honour 
in  life,  and  who  is  held  in  grateful  remembrance  now  he  is 
dead.  There  is  no  name  on  the  pages  of  her  history  that 
shines  with  lustre  more  brilliant,  and  none  will  be  more 
enduring. 

William  M'Kendree  was  born  in  King  William  Coun- 
ty, Virginia,  July  6th,  lYsY.  In  the  year  ll8l  there  was 
a  glorious  revival  in  Virginia  under  the  ministry  of  that 
Boanerges  the  Rev.  John  Easter,  of  precious  memory.  The 
youthful  M'Kendree  heard  him ;  an  arrow  of  truth  reached 
his  heart,  and  he  followed  the  preacher  from  one  place  to 
another,  as  he  went  preaching  the  word  with  power.  While 
Mr,  Easter,  in  a  certain  sermon,  was  showing  the  "  way  of 
salvation"  by  simple  faith  in  the  atonement,  the  arrow  was 
withdrawn  by  the  hand  of  mercy,  the  bleeding  heart  of 
the  young  man  was  bound  up,  the  balm  of  Gilead  was 
applied,  and  he  was  enabled  to  exclaim  with  Doctor  Young : 

"  With  joy,  witla  grief,  tlie  healing  hand  I  see, 
That  form'd  the  skies,  and  yet  that  bled  for  me, 
That  bleeds  the  balm  I  want." 


94 


THE  HEROES  OF  METHODISM. 


Soou  after  his  conversion,  Mr.  M'Kendree  was  called  upon 
to  pray  in  public  and  exhort  sinners  to  "  flee  the  wrath  to 
come."  In  June,  1788,  he  went  with  Rev.  John  Easter  to 
the  Virginia  Conference,  which  was  held  in  Petersburgh. 
Mr.  M'Kendree  felt  that  the  "  glorious  Gospel  of  the  blessed 
God  was  committed  to  his  trust,"  that  necessity  was  laid 
upon  him.  He  trembled  in  view  of  the  magnitude  of  the 
work,  and  his  great  responsibihty,  feeling  that 

"     is  not  a  cause  of  small  import, 
The  pastor's  care  demands, 
But  what  might  fill  an  angel's  heart, 
And  fill'd  a  Saviour's  hands." 

At  that  conference  Mr.  M'Kendree  was  received  into  the 
travelling  connexion,  though  he  had  been  converted  only 
nine  months,  and  had  not  been  licensed  as  a  local  preacher. 
For  twelve  years  his  ministry  was  confined  to  Virginia, 
except  a  short  time  spent  in  South  Carolina.  In  1800, 
Bishop  Asbury  and  Whatcoat  travelled  into  the  Western 
country,  taking  with  them  Mr.  M'Kendree.  The  far-seeing 
Asbury  saw  the  importance  of  that  great  Western  valley, 
and  the  necessity  of  having  the  right  kind  of  man  to  take 
the  general  oversight  of  the  work ;  and  he  selected  Wilham 
M'Kendree,  and  his  fidelity  and  success  show  the  wisdom  of 
the  bishop's  choice. 

Mr.  M'Kendree  was  appointed  presiding  elder,  and  had 
the  great  valley  of  the  Mississippi  for  his  district.  For  eight 
years  he  was  presiding  elder  in  the  West,  and  was  then  in 
the  very  prime  of  manhood,  and  exerted  a  most  powerful 
influence  in  favour  of  "  Christianity  in  earnest."  His  preach- 
ing was  in  "  the  demonstration  of  the  spirit  and  with  power." 
The  work  of  God  received  a  new  and  mighty  influence,  and 
several  new  districts  were  formed. 

At  the  General  Conference  held  in  Baltimore,  May,  1808, 
Mr.  M'Kendree  was  elected  and  ordained  a  bishop  in  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  and  during  the  eight  following 
years,  acted  as  a  joint  superintendent  with  Bishop  Asbury. 


WILLIAM  M'KENDKEE. 


95 


The  senior  bisliop  died  in  March,  1816,  and  the  whole 
weight  and  responsibility  rested  upon  Bishop  M'Kendree, 
and  he  showed  himself  just  the  man  for  the  emergency. 

As  a  preacher,  Mr.  M'Kendree  possessed  most  wonderful 
power.  All  who  heard  him  pronounced  him  the  prince  of 
preachers.  He  was  like  Apollos,  "  mighty  in  the  Scriptures," 
and  mighty  in  the  burning  logic  of  heaven.  He  was  endued 
with  power  from  on  high. 

Judge  M'Lean  thus  speaks  of  him  as  a  preacher  :  "  Bishop 
M'Kendree  was  not  a  classical  scholar,  and  yet  there  has 
not  appeared  in  the  Methodist  connexion  a  finer  model  as  a 
preacher.  He  was  eloquent  in  the  true  sense  of  the  term. 
Few  men  ever  filled  the  pulpit  with  greater  dignity  and  use- 
fulness, and  the  beautiful  simplicity  of  his  sermons  was  per- 
haps unequalled  in  our  country." 

As  a  presiding  bishop,  M'Kendree  had  no  superior,  and 
as  a  superintendent,  he  was  worthy  to  catch  and  wear  the 
mantle  of  the  ascended  Asbury.  No  man  ever  loved 
Methodism  with  a  purer  and  stronger  affection ;  no  one  ever 
laboured  to  promote  it  with  more  burning  and  unquench- 
able zeal,  and  few  have  employed  in  its  advancement  more 
distinguished  talents.  His  memorable  deeds  commend  him 
to  the  Church  and  to  posterity.  *'  He  made  full  proof  of 
his  ministry."  The  bishop  fell  at  his  post  loaded  with 
honours,  covered  with  scars,  and  crowned  with  imperishable 
laurels. 

Twelve  years  he  was  presiding  elder,  and  for  nearly  twen- 
ty-seven years  a  bishop  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 
For  half  a  century  he  stood  upon  the  walls  of  Zion,  but  on 
the  5th  of  March,  1835,  he  died  at  the  house  of  his  brother, 
near  Nashville,  in  the  '79th  year  of  his  age. 

The  following  portrait  of  the  bishop  is  from  "  A  Layman." 
It  is  sketched  and  drawn  by  a  masterly  hand,  and  will  be 
read  with  pleasure'  and  profit : — 

"  As  yet  I  have  seen  no  sketch  of  this  eminent  preacher 
of  the  cross,  which  does  justice  to  the  high  qualities  with 


96 


THE  HEROES  OF  METHODISM. 


which  he  was  endowed ;  and  I  shall  not  now  attempt  to  do 
justice  to  them,  but  merely  give  a  hasty  view  of  his  charac- 
ter. I  shall  consider  the  elements  of  which  his  character  is 
composed  as  embracing  the  entire  qualities  of  the  man,  phys- 
ical, moral,  and  intellectual. 

"No  man,  either  learned  or  unlearned,  ever  saw  Bishop 
M'Kendree  without  being  struck  with  the  dignity  of  his  per- 
sonal appearance.  It  was  said  by  Johnson  of  Edmund 
Burke,  that  if  any  man  should  meet  Burke  under  a  tree,  in 
a  shower  of  rain,  he  would  at  once  conclude  that  he  was  in 
the  presence  of  no  ordinary  man  ;  and  the  same  might  have 
been  said  of  Bishop  M'Kendree.  He  was  about  the  com- 
mon height,  and  his  form  was  finely  proportioned.  By  his 
countenance  were  shown  great  mildness  and  intellectual 
vigour.  His  forehead  was  high  and  well  turned ;  his  eyes 
black,  very  expressive,  and  somewhat  protruded  when  look- 
ing upward ;  his  eyebrows  heavy ;  his  mouth  exceedingly 
intellectual ;  his  chin  square  and  well  proportioned.  His  like- 
ness is  faithfully  given  in  the  numerous  engravings  which  are 
in  the  possession  of  his  friends  ;  and  I  doubt  whether  a  finer 
countenance,  one  more  expressive  of  benignity,  piety,  firmness, 
and  intelligence,  has  been  seen  in  any  age  or  country. 

"  In  early  life  Bishop  M'Kendree  had  not  the  advantages 
of  a  classical  education,  but  he  employed  a  long  life  in  the 
accumulation  of  useful  knowledge.  His  acquirements  were 
various,  extensive,  and  accurate.  With  almost  all  the  inter- 
esting topics  of  the  day,  and  especially  those  connected  with 
religion,  he  was  well  acquainted,  and  could  converse  on  them 
with  ease  and  fluency.  He  was  deeply  read  in  the  Holy 
Scriptures,  which  were  made  the  rule  of  his  life ;  and  both 
in  his  conversations  and  sermons  he  showed  that  he  had  not 
only  read  them  with  care,  but  that  they  had  been  the  sub- 
ject of  bis  profoundest  meditation. 

"  The  prominent  characteristics  of  his  mind  were  the  power 
of  analysis  and  the  faculty  of  drawing  correct  conclusions 
His  process  of  reasoning  was  clear,  simple,  and  conclusive 


WILLIAM  M'KENDREE. 


9? 


In  the  pulpit  I  have  never  seen  Christian  dignity,  humility, 
firmness,  piety,  and  persuasiveness  so  admirably  blended  as 
in  Bishop  M'Kendree. 

"He  had  neither  learned  nor  sfudied  in  the  schools  the  arts 
of  eloquence ;  but  he  was  learned  in  the  school  of  Christ. 
Nature  had  cast  his  form  in  the  finest  mould,  and  the  in- 
spirations of  his  subject  seldom  failed  to  give  him  that  power 
which  enlightens  the  judgment  and  opens  the  fountains  of 
the  soul. 

"  Never  had  an  orator  less  pretension  in  his  own  estimation. 
While  instructing  others,  you  could  see  by  his  countenance 
and  his  whole  demeanour,  that  he  was  himself  willing  to  be 
instructed.  His  mind  was  full  of  his  subject,  and  his  earnest 
endeavour  was,  in  all  meekness,  to  impart  to  every  hearer 
all  that  he  knew  and  all  that  he  felt. 

"  I  have  often  thought  that  his  illustrations  and  language 
approached  nearer  to  the  simplicity  of  the  teachings  of  his 
Divine  Master  than  any  other  preacher  I  have  ever  heard. 
He  never  indulged  in  rhetorical  figures  or  uncommon  words, 
but  always  used  the  most  appropriate  and  the  most  simple 
language  to  convey  his  ideas.  The  eloquence,  the  power, 
was  in  the  conception,  the  thought,  the  sentiment,  and  not 
in  the  words  with  which  it  was  clothed.  And  what  thrilling 
eff"eets  have  I,  and  others  who  have  heard  him,  witnessed 
from  the  bursts  of  eloquence  with  which  his  discourses  often 
abounded.  You  could  see  the  thought  kindle :  his  eye,  his 
mouth,  his  countenance,  his  whole  frame  seemed  to  be  light- 
ed up  with  more  than  human  fires ;  and  then,  in  a  tremu- 
loua  voice,  soft  as  the  evening  zephyrs,  would  flow  that 
beautiful  stream  of  eloquence  which  carried  upon  its  bosom 
the  enraptured  audience.  None  were  able  or  willing  to  re- 
sist its  force.  Occasionally  he  would  invoke  the  thunders 
of  Sinai,  and  sometimes  with  such  effect,  that  dismay 
and  terror  would  be  depicted  in  the  countenances  of  his 
hearers.  On  one  occasion,  at  a  popular  meeting,  this  ap- 
peal was  made  with  such  power  as  to  fill  the  thousands 


98 


THE  HEROES  OF  METHODISM. 


who  heard  him  with  the  utmost  consternation,  and  the 
orator,  as  if  moved  by  compassion,  released  his  hearers 
from  the  horror  which  had  seized  them,  by  thanking  God 
that  they  were  not  yet  subjects  of  hopeless  torment.  But 
this  was  not  a  strain  in  which  he  often  indulged.  His  com- 
mon theme  was  the  love  of  God ;  and  in  so  persuasive  a 
manner  did  he  commend  this  love  to  the  hearts  of  his  hear- 
ers, that  I  do  not  believe  he  ever  preached  a  sermon  in 
vain. 

"  Bishop  M'Kendree  was  eminently  qualified  to  fill  the  im- 
portant station  he  occupied  in  the  Church.  It  could  not 
boast  of  a  wiser  or  a  better  man.  He  had  become  closely 
identified  with  the  early  triumphs  of  Methodism  in  the 
United  States,  and  with  its  rise  in  the  Western  country. 
After  the  death  of  Bishop  Asbury,  he  was  looked  to  by  the 
preachers  and  the  people  as  the  patriarch  of  the  Church ; 
and  all  seemed  willing  to  be  instructed  by  his  experience 
and  piety.  Xo  man  was  better  calculated  to  soothe  excited 
feelings,  and  bring  those  heart-burnings  which,  from  the  im- 
perfection of  our  nature,  arise  among  the  most  exemplary 
and  pious  men,  to  a  happy  issue.  And  when  the  honour  of 
the  Church  and  the  cause  of  God  required  firmness,  no  man 
was  more  immovable  than  Bishop  M'Kendree. 

"  His  intercourse  with  his  fellow-men  was  such  as  became  a 
Christian  minister.  He  never  for  a  moment  forgot  the  re- 
sponsibility under  which  he  acted  ;  for  he  seemed  never  to  do 
or  say  anything  on  which  he  could  not  ask  the  blessing  of 
heaven.  While  his  soft  and  pleasing  manners  and  intelli- 
gent conversation  were  adapted  to  the  most  enlightened  and 
polished  society,  he  was  equally  beloved  in  every  circle.  He 
never  suft'ered  a  favourable  occasion  to  pass  without  recom- 
mending the  religion  of  his  Master,  and  I  doubt  whether  he 
ever  associated  with  any  individual,  or  in  any  circle,  large 
or  small,  without  fixing  in  the  mind  of  every  one  a  remem- 
brancer of  his  deep  and  unaffected  piety.  His  remarks  were, 
indeed,  like  bread  cast  upon  the  waters.    Prayer,  solemn, 


WILLIAM  M'KENDREE.  9d 

fervent  pvayer,  was  the  element  in  which  he  moved  and  had 
his  being. 

"This  is  a  short  and  very  feeble  outline  of  this  man  of  God. 
His  death  was  as  peaceful  and  as  eminently  triumphant  as 
his  life  had  been  devoted  and  useful.  His  body  rests  by 
the  side  of  his  father,  the  spot  selected  by  himself,  in  the 
state  of  Tennessee.  That  tongue  which  charmed  by  its  elo- 
quence, exciting  the  fears  of  the  sinner,  and  warming  the 
heart  of  the  believer,  is  now  silent  in  death.  Preachers,  you 
shall  never  again  hear  in  conference  that  more  than  parental 
admonition  and  advice  which  you  have  been  accustomed  to 
hear  from  your  beloved  M'Kendree.  But  he  has  left  for  you 
his  precept  and  example,  and  what  could  he  have  left  of  so 
much  value  to  you  and  the  Church  ?" 

At  the  request  of  the  New- York  Conference,  Bishop  Hed- 
ding  preached  a  funeral  sermon  on  the  occasion  of  the  death 
of  Bishop  M'Kendree.  It  was  delivered  in  the  Washington- 
street  Church  in  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.,  in  May,  1835.  Bishop 
Emory  was  the  presiding  bishop  at  the  conference,  and 
was  assisted  by  Bishop  Hedding.  The  bishop's  text  was 
2  Timothy  iv,  6-8  :  "  For  I  am  noio  ready  to  he  offered, 
and.  the  time  of  my  departure  is  at  hand.  I  have  fought  a 
good  fight,  I  have  finished  my  course,  I  have  Icept  the  faith: 
henceforth  there  is  laid  up  for  me  a  crown  of  righteousness, 
which  the  Lord,  the  righteous  Judge,  shall  give  me  at  that 
day:  and  not  to  me  only,  hut  unto  all  them  also  that  love 
his  appearing.^'' 

It  was  an  appropriate  text  and  an  excellent  sermon. 
The  main  points  were,  I.  The  apostle's  exercises.  (1.)  He 
had  fought  a  good  fight.  (2.)  The  faith  he  had  kept. 
(3.)  He  had  finished  his  course.  II.  The  apostle's  reward. 
The  crown  of  righteousness,  &c.  This  was  the  faithful  min- 
ister's reward. 

The  bishop  then  made  an  application  of  the  subject  by 
portraying  the  character,  conduct,  triumphant  end,  and  great 
reward  of  the  departed  M'Kendree. 

5* 


100 


THE  HEROES  OF  METHODISM. 


In  conclusion,  lie  noticed  two  defects  in  his  character. 
The  one  was  depression  of  spirits,  the  other  reproving  too 
severely  for  little  things,  laying  too  much  stress  upon,  and 
attaching  too  much  importance  to  them. 

Bishop  Emory  offered  the  concluding  prayer,  one  of  great 
beauty,  pathos,  and  power,  commencing :  "  O  Lord,  we  thank 
thee  that  Methodism  has  had  such  honourable  founders  as 
a  Wesley,  a  Fletcher,  a  Coke,  an  Asbury,  a  George,  a 
M'Kendree,  and  others,  who  have  fought  the  good  fight, 
kept  the  faith,  and  finished  their  course,  and  gone  up  to  re- 
ceive their  reward."  He  then  thanked  God  for  raising  up 
a  M'Kendree — for  his  talents,  for  his  usefulness,  and  for  his 
triumphant  end.  The  prayer  and  the  sermon  were  very 
impressive,  and  are  remembered  still,  though  both  of  the 
beloved  men  who  officiated  have  fallen  at  their  posts,  and 
sleep  in  honoured  sepulchres.  Bishop  Soule  preached  a 
funeral  sermon  before  the  General  Conference,  and  was  re- 
quested by  the  Conference  to  write  the  life  of  M'Kendree, 
but  for  some  cause  this  work  has  not  appeared.  Strange, 
indeed,  that  we  should  have  no  written  life  of  the  apostolic 
Asbury,  the  holy  Whatcoat,  the  pathetic  George,  and  the 
eloquent  M'Kendree.  With  what  intense  interest  would 
their  biographies  be  read!  What  a  hallowing  influence 
they  would  exert,  for  "  though  being  dead,  they  yet  would 
speak !"  Well  may  one  inquire :  "  Who  wull  rescue  their 
names  from  the  oblivion  that  threatens  to  cover  them? 
Are  there  not  materials  for  the  biographies  of  these  men  of 
blessed  memory?  Where  are  they?  and  who  will  weave 
them  into  a  beautiful,  instructive,  and  entertaining  nar- 
rative ?"  O  that  some  Methodist  Plutarch  might  be  raised 
up,  wielding  the  "pen  of  a  ready  writer,"  to  perform  with 
fidelity  this  task,  for  which  succeeding  generations  would 
praise  him!  It  is  due  to  the  heroes  of  Methodism  that 
they  be  embalmed  in  history;  that  their  deeds  be  re- 
corded. If  ever  this  is  done — and  I  trust  it  will  be — tho 
name  of  William  M'Kendree  will  occupy  a  conspicuous 


WILLIAM  M'KENDREE. 


101' 


place  among  the  noble  heroes  who  have  fought  valiantly, 
and  conquered  nobly,  and  shouted  victory  over  their  enemies. 
His  life  was  that  of  a  Christian  hero — his  death  equally  heroic. 
"  All  is  well,"  said  the  dying  sentinel.  These  were  the 
last  words  that  trembled  upon  his  pallid  lips.  How  they 
thrilled  the  heart  of  the  Church,  as  they  went  over  the 
hills  and  valleys  where  the  good  bishop  had  travelled  and 
preached !  They  inspired  the  ministers  with  fresh  courage,  old 
men  leaning  on  the  top  of  their  staves,  with  trembling  voices 
repeated  them ;  man  in  his  prime  echoed  them ;  and  childhood 
lisped  forth  the  last  words  of  the  dying  bishop,  "  All  is  well !" 
It  was  his  last  legacy  to  the  Church — rich  and  valuable. 


^miiatn  n'ii  Illustrations. 

M'KENDREE  AND  THE  AGED  MINISTER. 

"In  June,  1788,  William  M'Kendree  accompanied  brother 
John  Easter  to  conference  in  Petersburgh,  with  his  mind 
deeply  affected  respecting  his  call  to  the  work  of  the  ministry. 
He  trembled  at  the  undertaking,  and  hesitated  to  engage  in 
it,  but  at  the  same  time  he  felt  all  the  weight  of  that  sen- 
tence :  '  Necessity  is  laid  upon  me ;  yea,  woe  is  me  if  I  preach 
not  the  Gospel.'  In  this  state  of  mind,  while  walking  alone 
in  the  parlour  where  he  lodged,  an  aged  minister  came  in, 
walked  up,  and  took  him  in  his  arms.  '  Brother,'  said  he,  *  my 
mind  is  powerfully  impressed  that  God  has  a  great  work  for 
you  to  do,  and  I  believe  the  impression  is  from  the  Lord. 
Do  n't  start  from  the  cross — take  it  up — go  to  the  work,  and 
be  faithful !'    "While  pronouncing  these  words  the  tears  ran. 


102 


THE  HEROES  OF  METHODISM. 


down  the  old  man's  cheeks,  and  he  left  young  M'Kendrca 
with  his  mind  greatly  moved.  After  solemn  and  fervent 
prayer  to  God,  to  know  his  will,  he  determined  to  make  the 
trial,  and  if  he  found  that  his  labours  were  not  blessed,  he 
would  decline  travelling,  and  go  home ;  accordingly,  he  took 
an  appointment  from  that  conference,  and  became  an  itiner- 
ant Methodist  preacher." — Rev.  T.  L.  Douglass. 

m'kendree  and  his  first  circuit. 

There  is  something  peculiar  about  the  first  circuit.  Every- 
thing is  new  and  untried.  Much  depends  upon  the  recep- 
tion the  young  minister  meets  with,  and  the  counsel  that  is 
given  him.  Many  of  our  strongest  men  have  been  informed, 
on  their  first  fields  of  labour,  that  they  had  mistaken  their 
calling,  and  that  they  had  better  return  home. 

From  the  Rev.  Daniel  De  Vinne  I  received  the  following : 
"Mr.  Epps,  of  Mississippi,  gave  me  an  account  of  young 
M'Kendree's  first  circuit,  of  the  reception  he  met  with,  and  his 
discouragements. 

"  Mr.  M'Kendree  was  sent  to  a  circuit  in  Virginia,  and 
came  to  Mr.  Epps's  father's  house,  which  was  a  home  for 
the  preachers.  M'Kendree  was  at  that  time  a  tall,  slim, 
unpolished  young  man,  who  had  been  raised  in  the  woods, 
and  had  seen  but  little  of  the  world.  So  unpromising  was 
his  appearance,  and  so  unfavourable  was  the  first  impression 
made,  that  Mr.  Epps  said  to  a  friend,  '  I  wonder  who  they 
will  send  next  ?'  The  hour  for  divine  service  arrived,  and 
they  went  to  the  house  of  God ;  young  M'Kendree  trem- 
bling, and  Mr.  Epps  with  a  very  poor  opinion  of  his  talents 
as  a  preacher.  After  reading  and  prayer,  M'Kendree  took 
his  text,  and  attempted  to  look  at  his  audience ;  and  such 
was  his  embarrassment  that  he  could  not  lift  his  eyes  from 
the  Bible,  but  looked  upon  the  book  till  he  finished  his  ser- 
mon. After  the  sermon  Mr.  Epps  left  the  house,  and  sup- 
posed the  preacher  would  follow  him ;  but  not  seeing  him,  he 


WILLIAM  M'KENDREE. 


108 


returned  to  the  church,  and  there  found  him  seated  on  the 
lowest  step  of  the  pulpit  stairs,  his  face  covered  with  his 
hands,  looking  forlorn  and  dejected,  as  if  he  had  not  a 
friend  on  earth.  Mr.  Epps  invited  the  young  preacher  to  go 
home  with  him.  Young  M'Kendree  said,  in  a  mournful 
tone,  '  I  am  not  fit  to  go  home  with  anybody.'  Mr.  Epps 
was  not  a  man  of  a  great  deal  of  sympathy,  and  coolly  re- 
plied, 'Well,  you  must  have  something  to  eat,  any  way.* 
He  went  home  with  him.  They  entered  into  conversation 
concerning  his  call  to  the  ministry,  Mr.  Epps  expressing  an 
opinion  that  he  could  not  preach ;  that  he  had  no  call  to 
the  ministry,  and  had  run  before  he  was  sent;  and  con- 
cluded by  advising  him  to  return  home.  M'Kendree  came 
to  the  same  conclusion.  In  order  to  facilitate  such  an 
arrangement,  Mr.  Epps  agreed  to  recall  a  number  of 
M'Kendree's  appointments  that  were  nearest  to  him,  and 
M'Kendree  was  to  take  up  the  most  distant,  and  then  return 
home.  Mr.  Epps  recalled  those  he  had  agreed  to,  and 
M'Kendree  went  to  attend  to  the  same  thing.  With  disap- 
pointed expectations  and  mortified  spirit,  he  proceeded  on  his 
way.  He  came  to  the  first  appointment,  and  told  the  people 
his  errand.  Some  one  persuaded  him  to  try  to  preach  ; 
at  last  he  yielded,  and  God  blessed  him  :  the  Holy  Ghost  de- 
scended upon  the  people,  and  sinners  were  awakened  and  con- 
verted to  God.  He  then  filled  the  rest  of  his  appointments  ; 
and  instead  of  returning  home,  continued  to  preach '  Jesus  and 
the  resurrection,'  and  had  a  year  of  great  spiritual  prosperity. 
And  from  that  time  he  went  on,  became  one  of  the  most 
successful  ministers,  and  continued  in  his  work  till 

*  His  body  with  his  charge  laid  down, 
He  ceased  at  once  to  work  and  live.' " 

It  is  very  foolish  to  form  a  hasty  opinion  of  a  preacher's 
talents  from  his  youth  or  his  personal  appearance.  How 
many  young  ministers  have  been  advised  to  return  home, 
who  afterward  were  burning  and  shining  lights !    This  was 


104  THE  HEROES  OF  METHODISM. 


the  case  with  Dr.  Adam  Clarke,  George  Roberts,  Henry  B, 
Bascom,  and  many  others.  Some  have  wished  them  to 
return  home,  because  it  was  the  "  boy  preacher ;"  but  if  they 
had  listened  attentively,  they  would  have  found  the  boy 
could  preach  a  man's  sermon.  Some  judge  unfavourably 
from  their  personal  appearance.  Many  of  the  strongest 
minds  have  inferior  bodies.  Mind  is  the  standard  of  the  man. 
Furthermore,  talents  are  not  always  developed  immediately. 
It  was  some  time  before  the  giant  energies  and  god -like 
powers  of  Patrick  Henry  were  developed,  and  some  time 
before  the  oratorical  talents  of  Henry  Clay  were  discovered. 
Many  a  young  preacher  has  been  discouraged  by  cold  recep- 
tion, cold  criticism,  or  injudicious  advice,  and  their  services 
forever  lost  to  the  Church. 

M'KENDREE  AND  BISHOP  ASBURY. 

James  O'Kelley  was  for  several  years  the  presiding  elder  of 
Wm.  M'Kendree.  His  influence  over  him  was  powerful ;  and 
he  succeeded  in  so  prejudicing  M'Kendree  against  Asbury 
and  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  that  at  the  conference 
in  1*792 — when  the  difficulties  came  to  a  crisis — he  declined 
taking  an  appointment,  and  sent  Bishop  Asbury  "his  resig- 
nation in  writing."  But  soon  after  the  conference  adjourned 
he  saw  the  bishop,  recalled  his  resignation,  and  received  an 
appointment.  The  Rev.  Henry  Smith  says:  "From  a  con- 
versation with  Mr.  M'Kendree  he  learned  that  the  character 
of  Bishop  Asbury  had  been  shamefully  misrepresented  to  him 
by  Mr.  O'Kelley,  and  that  on  this  account  he  obtained  leave 
to  travel  with  the  bishop,  and,  indeed,  made  it  the  condition 
of  his  remaining  in  the  itinerancy.  It  is  quite  needless  to 
say,  that  an  intimate  acquaintance  with  the  beloved  bishop 
created  a  confidence  and  friendship  which  each  succeeding 
year  cemented  the  more  strongly,  till  they  were  separated 
by  death."  Bishop  Asbury  rejoiced  when  William  M'Ken- 
dree was  elected  superintendent,  and  remarked  in  his  Jour- 


WILLIAM  M'KENDREE. 


105 


nal :  "  The  burden  is  now  borne  by  two  pair  of  shoulders 
instead  of  one,  and  the  care  is  cast  upyn  two  hearts  and 
heads."  Bishop  Asbury  spoke  of  Bishop  M'Kendree  in 
terms  of  the  highest  eulogy.  He  speaks  of  the  election  of 
Mr.  M'Kendree  to  the  office  of  bishop,  and  calls  him  "  dear 
brother  M'Kendree." 

TWO  POOR  BISHOPS. 

Bishop  Asbury  in  his  Journal  sketches  and  draws  the  fol- 
lowing living  picture  of  himself  and  his  colleague :  "My  flesh 
sinks  under  labour.  We  are  riding  in  a  poor  thirty-dollar 
chaise,  in  partnership — two  bishops  of  us ;  but  it  must  be 
confessed  it  tallies  well  with  the  weight  of  our  purses. 
What  bishops !  Well,  we  have  great  news,  and  we  have 
great  tim-es ;  and  each  Western,  Southern,  together  with 
the  Virginia  Conference,  will  have  one  thousand  souls  truly 
converted  to  God.  Is  not  this  equivalent  for  a  light  purse  ? 
And  are  we  not  well  paid  for  starving  and  toil  ?  Yes,  glory 
to  God!" 

M'KENDREE  AND  MR.  M'NAMAR. 

When  M'Kendree  was  presiding  elder  in  the  West,  Rev. 
Mr.  M'Namar,  a  Presbyterian  clergyman  in  Kentucky,  on 
the  recommendation  of  Dr.  C.  went  to  hear  him  preach. 
His  theme  was  the  extent  of  the  atonement,  and  salvation 
^  by  faith  in  Christ.  Mr.  M'Namar  was  so  charmed  with  his 
simple  eloquence,  and  the  force  of  his  doctrine,  that  he  said 
in  himself  as  he  went  home,  This  is  the  doctrine  that  is 
calculated  to  do  good.  It  so  wrought  upon  his  mind  that 
shortly  afterward,  perhaps  the  next  Sabbath,  he  began  upon 
the  same  heavenly  theme  in  his  own  congregation,  and  the 
mighty  power  of  God  came  down  upon  him  and  his  congre- 
gation, and  many  of  them  fell  to  the  floor  under  it,  and  the 
preacher  among  the  rest.  I  was  not  present,  but  was  told 
of  it  by  some  Methodist  friends  who  were  eye-witnesses. 


106 


THE  HEROES  OF  METHODISM. 


To  the  congregation  this  was  strange  work,  but  not  so 
strange  among  the^  Methodists,  for,  thank  God,  we  kept  the 
fire  burning  in  the  midst  of  surrounding  darkness  and  oppo- 
sition. Some  of  the  Methodists  began  to  talk  to  those  in 
distress,  and  also  sung  and  prayed ;  but  some  of  the  elders, 
who  were  still  on  their  feet,  said,  "  If  it  is  the  Lord's  work, 
let  the  Lord  do  his  own  work ;"  but  they  replied,  "  The  Lord 
works  by  means,"  and  persisted ;  some  soon  found  peace  and 
began  to  rejoice.  As  there  was  some  crowding  among  those 
who  were  down,  one  said,  "  Don't  tread  upon  Mr.  M'Na- 
mar."  He  heard  it,  and  cried  out,  "  Yes,  let  them  tread  on 
me,  for  I  deserve  it.  O,  if  I  and  my  congregation  had  been 
called  to  judgment  a  few  weeks  ago,  what  would  have  be- 
come of  us  ?"  This  was  the  beginning  of  the  work  among 
the  Presbyterians  on  the  east  part  of  Kentucky,  and  soon 
spread  nearly  over  the  state. — Henry  Smith. 

M'KENDREE  AND  THE  ENRAGED  BROTHER. 

"About  the  year  1 798," says  Rev.  Francis  M'Cormick,  "the 
Rev.  Wm.  M'Kendree  came  to  preside  over  us  at  a  quar- 
terly meeting  held  by  him  at  brother  Philip  Gatch's.  There 
were  felt  and  seen  the  displays  of  mercy  and  grace  ;  while 
our  reverend  brother  was  holding  forth  the  word  of  life,  sin- 
ners were  cut  to  the  heart  in  a  wonderful  manner ;  one  young 
woman  in  particular  shrieked  aloud,  as  though  a  sword  had! 
been  run  through  her.  Her  brother,  in  a  rage,  ran  to  her  re-j 
lief,  and  took  her  out  of  the  crowd,  but  the  Lord  arrestedj 
him,  and  he  began  to  cry  for  mercy." 

M'KENDREE  AND  WILLIAM  BURKE. 

"In  August,  1802,"  says  the  Rev.  Wm.  Burke,  "we  held  a 
four-days'  meeting  in  Shannon  meeting-house,  Kentucky.  It 
continued  night  and  day  without  intermission.  I  was  em- 
ployed night  and  day.  For  three  nights  I  did  not  sleep. 
Rev.  William  M'Kendree  preached  on  Monday  morning,  and 


WILLUM  M'KENDREE. 


while  lie  was  preaching,  the  power  of  God  rested  on  the  con- 
gregation, and  about  the  middle  of  his  sermon  it  came  down 
upon  him  in  such  a  manner  that  he  sank  down  into  my  arms 
while  sitting  behind  him  in  the  pulpit.  His  silence  called 
every  eye  to  the  pulpit.  I  instantly  raised  him  up  to  his 
feet,  and  the  congregation  said  his  face  beamed  with  glory. 
He  shouted  out  the  praise  of  God,  and  it  appeared  like  an 
electric  shock  in  the  congregation.  Many  fell  to  the  floor 
like  men  slain  in  the  field  of  battle.  The  meeting  contin- 
ued late  in  the  afternoon,  and  witnesses  were  raised  up  to  de- 
clare that  God  had  power  on  earth  to  forgive  sins,  and  many 
did  say  he  could  cleanse  from  all  unrighteousness.  From 
this  meeting  the  work  went  on  with  astonishing  power ;  hun- 
dreds were  converted  to  God,  and  one  of  the  most  pleasing 
features  of  this  revival  was,  that  almost  all  the  children  of 
the  old  faithful  Methodists  were  the  subjects  of  the  work." 

M'KENDREE  AND  THE  EXTORTIONER ;  OR,  THE  POWER 
OF  CONSCIENCE. 

"In  the  summer  of  1806,  William  M'Kendree,  then  pre- 
siding elder  of  the  district,  was  preaching  near  Maysville, 
the  landing-place  for  most  of  the  emigrants  to  the  upper  part 
of  the  state  of  Kentucky.  His  subject  naturally  led  him 
to  enlarge  on  extortion.  It  was  here  that  the  emigrants 
were  frequently  exposed  to  impositions  of  various  kinds  from 
a  want  of  knowledge  of  the  prices  of  the  commodities  of 
the  country,  &c.  With  his  usual  ingenuity,  M'Kendree 
pressed  the  subject  very  closely.  '  Yes,'  said  he, '  it  frequent- 
ly happens  that  some  take  advantage  of  the  poor  emigrant 
too,  that  has  removed  to  your  fine  country  to  become  your 
neighbour  and  fellow-citizen ;  you  sell  him  your  corn  or  other 
produce  at  double  price,  and  for  the  corn,  when  it  is  worth  only 
fifty  cents  the  bushel,  you  can  ask  a  dollar — ah !  and  re- 
ceive it  too — of  the  poor  man  who  has  to  grapple  with  mis- 
fortunes to  support  his  family.'    An  aged,  gentleman  sitting 


108 


THE  HEROES  ©F  METHODISM. 


near  the  door  was  discovered  to  become  more  and  more  un- 
easy. His  hoary  locks  gave  him  a  venerable  cast,  but  the 
emotions  of  his  mind  were  such  as  to  operate  upon  the  mus- 
cular movement  of  his  features.  As  the  subject  was  pressed 
his  agitation  increased ;  he  could  stand  it  no  longer,  but, 
rising  from  his  seat,  thus  abruptly  addressed  the  preacher : 
'  If  I  did  sell  my  corn  for  a  dollar  a  bushel,  I  gave  them  six 
months  to  pay  it  in.'  *Sit  down,  my  friend,'  calmly  replied 
M'Kendree ; '  sit  down,  sir,  if  you  please.  We  are  discussing  a 
subject  and  dehneating  a  character ;  we  are  not  in  the  habit 
of  making  p^r5onaZ  reflections.'" — Theophilus  Arminius. 

This  anecdote  illustrates  the  fidelity  of  the  preacher.  It 
shows  that  he  "cried  aloud  and  spared  not;"  and  that  there 
was  in  him  an  honesty  and  a  fidelity  equal  to  Nathan, 
when  he  went  to  David  and  said,  "  Thou  art  the  man !" 

It  also  illustrates  the  power  of  God's  word.  His  word  is 
"  quick  and  powerful,  sharper  than  any  two-edged  sword." 
It  cut  to  the  very  quick.  The  guilty  extortioner,  who  had 
ground  the  face  of  the  poor  in  order  to  enrich  his  cofiers, 
v/ho  had  taken  advantage  of  their  necessities,  felt  as  if 
the  preacher  was  acquainted  with  his  mean  conduct,  and 
that  he  was  exposing  him  before  the  audience.  God's  word 
is  not  only  a  "  sword,"  but  a  "  hammer"  and  a  "  fire."  It 
shows  also  the  power  of  conscience.  There  was  something 
within  that  interpreted  and  applied  the  sermon  to  the  sinner 
himself.  It  was  conscience  that  lashed  him  like  a  whip  of 
scorpions.  Happy  the  man  who  has  the  testimony  of  a  good 
conscience,  and  woe  to  the  man  that  has  conscience  for  his 
enemy. 

M'KENDREE  AND  THE  GENTLEMAN. 

In  1807,  Mr.  M'Kendree  and  a  few  preachers  concluded  to 
"  visit  the  regions  beyond,"  "  to  stretch  themselves  beyond 
themselves."  So  they  penetrated  far  into  the  wilderness, 
into  what  was  called  the  "  Northwestern  Territory,"  and 


WILLIAM  M'KENDREE. 


109 


there  he  preached  with  great  power  and  success  the  "  glori- 
ous Gospel  of  the  blessed  God."  At  one  of  his  appoint- 
ments a  gentleman  said  to  him  :  "  Sir,  I  am  convinced  that 
there  is  a  divine  influence  in  your  religion  ;  for  though  I 
have  resided  here  some  years,  and  have  done  all  within  my 
power  to  gain  the  confidence  and  good-will  of  my  neigh- 
bours, you  have  already  made  more  friends  here  than  I 
have." 

THE  SERMON  THAT  MADE  M'KENDREE  BISHOP. 

Mr.  M'Kendree  was  a  member  of  the  General  Conference 
that  met  at  Baltimore,  May,  1808.  Two  bishops  were 
elected.  On  the  Sabbath  before  the  election  he  was  ap- 
pointed to  preach  in  the  morning,  at  the  Light-street 
Church.  This  sermon,  which  had  such  a  powerful  influ- 
ence on  his  future  position,  has  been  glowingly  described 
by  Dr.  Bangs,  our  Church  historian.  I  shall  give  it  in  his 
own  words : 

"The  house  was  crowded  with  strangers  in  every  part, 
above  and  below,  eager  to  hear  the  stranger;  and  among 
others,  most  of  the  members  of  the  General  Conference  were 
present,  besides  a  number  of  coloured  people,  who  occupied 
a  second  gallery  in  the  front  end  of  the  Church.  Mr. 
M'Kendree  entered  the  pulpit  at  the  hour  for  commencing 
the  services,  clothed  in  very  coarse  and  homely  garments, 
which  he  had  worn  in  the  woods  of  the  West,  and  after 
singing  he  kneeled  in  prayer.  As  was  often  the  case  with 
him  when  he  commenced  his  prayer,  he  seemed  to  falter  in 
his  speech,  clipping  some  of  his  words  at  the  end,  and  occa- 
sionally hanging  upon  a  syllable,  as  if  it  were  difficult  for 
him  to  pronounce  the  word.  I  looked  at  him,  not  without 
some  feelings  of  distrust,  thinking  to  myself,  '  I  wonder 
what  awkward  backwoodsman  they  have  put  in  the  pulpit 
this  morning,  to  disgrace  us  with  his  mawkish  and  uncouth 
phraseology.'    This  feeling  of  distrust  did  not  forsake  me 


110 


THE  HEROES  OF  :N[ETH0DISM. 


until  some  minutes  after  he  had  announced  his  text,  which 
contained  the  following  words :  *  For  the  hurt  of  the 
daughter  of  my  people  am  I  hurt ;  I  am  black ;  astonish- 
ment hath  taken  hold  on  me.  Is  there  no  balm  in  Gilead  ? 
is  there  no  physician  there  ?  Why,  then,  is  not  the  health 
of  the  daughter  of  my  people  recovered  V  Jeremiah  viii, 
21,  22. 

"His  introduction  appeared  tame,  his  sentences  broken 
and  disjointed,  and  his  elocution  very  defective.  He  at 
length  introduced  his  main  subject,  which  was  to  show  the 
spiritual  disease  of  the  Jewish  Church,  and  of  the  human 
family  generally  ;  and  then  he  entered  upon  his  second  prop- 
osition, which  was  to  analyze  the  feelings  which  such  a 
state  of  things  awakened  in  the  souls  of  God's  faithful  am- 
bassadors :  but  when  he  came  to  speak  of  the  blessed  effects 
upon  the  heart  of  the  balm  which  God  had  provided  for  the 

*  healing  of  the  nations,'  he  seemed  to  enter  fully  into  the 
element  in  which  his  soul  delighted  to  move  and  have  its 
being,  and  he  soon  carried  the  whole  congregation  away  with  * 
him  into  the  regions  of  experimental  religion. 

"Remarking  upon  the  objections  which  some  would  make 
to  the  expression  of  the  feelings  realized  by  a  person  fully 
restored  to  health  by  an  application  of  the  '  sovereign  balm 
for  every  wound,'  he  referred  to  the  shouts  of  applause  so 
often  heard  upon  our  national  jubilee,  in  commemoration  of 
our  emancipation  from  political  thraldom,  and  then  said, 

*  How  much  more  cause  has  an  immortal  soul  to  rejoice  and 
give  glory  to  God  for  its  spiritual  deliverance  from  the  bond- 
age of  sin  !'  This  was  spoken  with  a  soul  overflowing  with 
the  most  hallowed  and  exalted  feelings,  and  with  such  an 
emphasis,  that  it  was  like  the  sudden  bursting  of  a  cloud 
surcharged  with  water.  The  congregation  was  instantly 
overwhelmed  with  a  shower  of  divine  grace  from  the  upper 
world.  At  first,  sudden  shrieks,  as  of  persons  in  distress, 
were  heard  in  different  parts  of  the  house ;  then  shouts  of 
praise,  and  in  every  direction  sobs  and  groans.    The  eyes  of 


WILLIAM  M'KENDREE. 


Ill' 


the  people  overflowed  with  tears,  wliile  many  were  prostrated 
upon  the  floor,  or  lay  helpless  on  the  seats.  A  very  large, 
athletic-looking  preacher,  who  was  sitting  by  my  side,  sud- 
denly fell  upon  his  seat,  as  if  pierced  by  a  bullet,  and  I 
felt  my  heart  melting  under  emotions  which  I  could  not 
well  resist. 

"  After  this  sudden  shower  the  clouds  were  dispersed,  and 
the  Sun  of  Righteousness  shone  out  most  serenely  and  de- 
lightfully, producing  upon  all  a  present  consciousness  of  the 
divine  approbation  ;  and  when  the  preacher  descended  from 
the  pulpit,  all  were  filled  with  admiration  of  his  talents,  and 
were  ready  to  '  magnify  the  grace  of  God  in  him,'  as  a  chosen 
messenger  of  good  tidings  to  the  lost,  saying  in  their  hearts, 
'■This  is  the  man  whom  God  delights  to  honour 

Bishop  Asbury,  who  was  present,  was  heard  to  say  that 
the  sermon  would  make  him  a  bishop,  and  his  prophecy 
was  true ;  for  on  the  12th  of  May,  the  day  that  the  resolu- 
tion passed  to  elect  and  consecrate  an  additional  bishop,  he 
was  elected.  The  number  of  votes  cast  was  one  hundred 
and  twenty-eight ;  of  which  Mr.  M'Kendree  had  ninety-five 
in  his  favour,  and  the  remainder  were  divided  between  E. 
Cooper  and  Jesse  Lee.  It  was  the  largest  majority  by  which 
any  bishop  has  been  elected,  except  Bishop  Asbury.  He 
was  consecrated  to  the  ofifice  of  bishop,  or  superintendent  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  on  the  iVth  of  May,  1808, 
in  the  Light-street  Church,  by  Bishop  Asbury,  assisted  by 
Rev.  Messrs.  Garrettson,  Bruce,  Lee,  and  Ware,  who  were 
the  oldest  and  most  prominent  elders  in  the  ministry  at  that 
time. 

BISHOP  M'KENDREE  AND  THE  PENITENT. 

In  the  summer  of  1809,  a  camp-meeting  was  held  on  the 
farm  of  the  Rev.  John  CoUins,  in  Ohio.  Bishop  M'Kendree 
with  many  others  attended.  On  Monday  morning  the  sacra- 
ment of  the  Lord's  Supper  was  administered.    The  ministers 


112  THE  HEROES  OF  METHODISM. 


were  all  invited  around  the  table  to  partake  of  the  holy  em- 
blems. The  venerable  bishop  offered  the  consecratory  prayer, 
and  then  distributed  to  the  under-shepherds  the  bread  and 
wine.  A  solemn  stillness  reigned  around,  only  broken  by  a 
deep  sigh  or  a  half-suppressed  sob,  while  one  after  another 
of  that  large  congregation  came  to  celebrate  the  scenes  of 
Gethsemane  and  Calvary.  Nearly  in  front  of  the  bishop, 
beyond  the  altar,  stood  the  weeping  penitent,  reclining  her 
head  upon  the  shoulder  of  a  converted  sister,  and  sobbing  as 
if  her  heart  would  break,  while  she  gazed  upon  the  scene. 
Her  appearance  and  manner  attracted  the  attention  of  the 
benevolent  M'Kendree,  and,  looking  toward  her,  he  said,  "  My 
child,  come  here,  and  kneel  at  the  foot  of  the  cross,  and  you 
shall  find  mercy." 

"  Do  you  think,"  said  she  through  her  tears,  "  so  vile  a 
sinner  as  I  may  venture  to  approach  the  sacramental  board, 
and  take  in  my  unholy  hands  the  emblems  of  the  Saviour's 
dying  love  ?" 

,  "  Yes,  my  child  ;  it  was  for  just  such  sinners  as  you  the 
blessed  Jesus  died,  and  while  writhing  in  his  last  agonies,  he 
demonstrated  his  power  and  willingness  to  save  by  taking 
the  penitent  malefactor  with  him  to  heaven." 

"  Then  I'll  go  to  Jesus,"  said  she ;  and  hurrying  to  the 
table,  she  fell  upon  her  knees  and  cried  aloud  to  God.  With 
streaming  eyes  the  bishop  administered  the  bread,  and  just 
as  her  lips  tasted  the  wine  of  the  sacramental  cup,  pardon 
was  communicated  and  heaven  sprung  up  in  her  heart.  In- 
stantly she  rose  to  her  feet,  her  face  shining  like  that  of 
an  angel,  while,  with  an  eloquence  that  went  to  every ^leart, 
she  told  the  story  of  the  cross  and  the  wondrous  power  ot 
Christ  to  save.  All  seemed  to  partake  of  the  common  joy 
of  that  renewed  spirit.  This  young  lady  accompanied  us  to 
the  camp-meeting.  To  the  graces  of  her  person,  for  she  was 
charmingly  beautiful,  were  added  a  brilliant  mind.  She  was 
amiable  and  lovely,  the  charm  of  the  neighbourhood. 
Scarcely  had  we  arrived  on  the  ground  before  she  was  con- 


WILLIAM  M'KENDREE. 


lis 


victed.  During  Saturday  and  Sunday  she  seemed  to  be  in 
extreme  agony  of  mind.  Her  prayers  and  tears  excited  the 
sympathy  of  all  hearts.  I  had  supposed  that  only  such  as 
were  converted,  and  were  the  children  of  God  by  faith  in 
Christ  Jesus,  were  entitled  to  a  place  at  the  Lord's  table. — 
Finley^s  Autobiography, 

M'KENDREE  AND  THE  CALVINISTS. 

In  1811,  on  a  western  tour.  Bishop  M'Kendree  preached  at 
Granville,  and  the  Calvinists  sent  him  a  note,  requesting  him 
to  preach  his  principles  in  full.  This  he  did  to  their  satis- 
faction ;  and  in  addition  thereto,  as  a  work  of  supereroga- 
tion, gave  an  exposition  of  Calvinism.  After  the  discourse 
three  elders  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  came  to  his  lodg- 
ings and  attacked  him  with  great  zeal.  In  a  short  time, 
however,  they  were  so  completely  confounded  that  they  went 
away  ashamed  of  the  inconsistencies  of  their  doctrines. — 
Finleyh  Autobiography. 

M'KENDREE  AND  THE  WESTERN  CONFERENCE. 

"  In  the  fall  of  1804,"  says  the  Rev.  John  Meek,  "  our  con- 
ference was  held  at  brother  Griffith's,  in  Kentucky.  Bishop 
Asbury  did  not  get  there.  Rev.  Wm.  M'Kendree  was  elect- 
ed president  of  the  conference  during  its  session.  "When  it 
was  announced  that  he  was  the  choice  of  the  brethren, 
as  chairman  of  the  conference  he  arose,  and  in  a  flood  of 
tears,  expressed  his  deep  sense  of  obligation  to  his  brethren 
for  the  confidence  they  had  placed  in  him,  and  begged  their 
indulgence,  and  also  their  fervent  supplication  to  the  great 
Head  of  the  Church  that  he  might  be  sustained.  wAnd,  in- 
deed, there  appeared  to  be  but  one  feeling  to  pervade  the 
whole,  pure  friendship;  for  here  let  me  say  in  those  days  of 
sufi'ering  and  of  toil,  the  blessed  law  of  kindness  was  the 
governing  principle.    And  verily,  we  had  a  blessed  season  of 


114 


THE  HEROES  OF  METHODISM. 


the  divine  presence ;  for  the  God  of  the  wilderness  was  with 
us  of  a  truth.  Our  beloved  M'Kendree  presided  with  great 
ability,  and  I  believe  I  am  correct  when  I  say  that  the 
preachers  seldom,  if  ever,  received  their  appointments  with  a 
better  state  of  feeling,  or  went  more  cheerfully  to  their  dif- 
ferent fields  of  labour." 

M'KENDREE  AND  THE  QUARTERLY  MEETING. 

"In  1804,"  says  the  Rev.  Maxwell  P.  Gaddis,  "a  quarterly 
meeting  was  held  at  John  Prathers',  Kentucky.  William 
M'Kendree  was  the  presiding  elder  of  the  district.  On 
Saturday  preaching  was  held  in  a  grove  adjoining  the  bouse. 
On  Sunday  morning  the  Lord  rained  down  righteousness 
upon  his  people.  At  1 1  o'clock  M'Kendree  preached  in  the 
house,  and  John  Sale  in  the  barn  at  the  same  time.  The 
power  of  God  fell  upon  the  people,  and  some  were  prostrat- 
ed, and  cried  to  God  for  mercy,  and  some  found  peace  in 
believing.  Mr.  M'Kendree  fell  prostrate  under  the  mighty 
power  and  glory  of  God  also.  A  number  fled  out  of  the 
house,  but  fell  in  the  yard,  and  cried  aloud  for  mercy.  As 
the  preaching  in  the  barn  was  over  at  the  same  time,  the 
two  congregations  met  in  the  yard.  The  Lord  then  made 
bare  his  holy  arm  in  the  sight  of  all  the  people.  Sinners 
were  cut  to  the  heart.  Many  fell  under  the  mighty  power 
of  God,  and  cried  out,  '  Men  and  brethren,  what  shall  we 
do  ?'  It  was  a  memorable  day,  such  as  had  never  been  wit- 
nessed in  that  section  of  country  before.  Among  the  con- 
rerts  on  that  occasion  was  the  Rev.  George  C.  Light.  Bishop 
M'Kendree  was  often  heard  to  say,  that  in  all  his  previous 
travels  he  had  never  witnessed  so  remarkable  a  display  of 
converting  power." 

BISHOP  M'KENDREE  AND  THE  CONFLAGRATION. 

Bishop  M'Kendree  was  remarkable  for  his  great  presence  of 
mind.    He  illustrated  this  trait  in  his  character  in  1812, 


WILLIAM  M'KENDREE. 


116 


while  preaching  in  John-street,  one  Sabbath  morning. 
During  the  service  the  cry  of  "  Fire  !  fire !  fire !"  was  heard. 
The  fire  was  not  far  oflf.  It  was  the  great  fire  in  Chatham- 
street,  that  burned  from  what  is  now  the  Park,  to  Pearl  and 
William  streets.  The  alarm  threw  the  congregation  into 
confusion,  and  they  commenced  running  out.  With  the 
utmost  calmness  said  Bishop  M'Kendree,  "  Let  the  men  go 
to  the  fire,  for  they  probably  can  do  some  good;  let  the 
women  remain,  and  I  will  preach  to  them."  He  did  preach, 
while  the  fire  was  raging,  a  solemn  and  impressive  sermon 
to  the  women. 

BISHOP  M'KENDREE  AND  SAMUEL  PARKER. 

The  Rev.  Samuel  Parker  excelled  in  singing.  His  voice  was 
one  of  uncommon  melody,  and  well  cultivated ;  and  he  under- 
stood the  science  of  music.  "  We  were  told,"  says  the  Rev. 
J.  B.  Finley,  "  by  Bishop  M'Kendree,  that  when  he  was  on 
the  Hinkston  circuit,  at  one  of  brother  Parker's  quarterly 
meetings,  the  bishop  mentioned  to  Mr.  Parker  a  tune  which 
he  had  heard  in  the  southern  part  of  Kentucky,  that  so 
interested  and  thrilled  him  that  it  had  been  sounding  in  his 
mind  ever  since.  The  bishop  was  deprived,  like  many 
others,  of  the  wonderful  gift  of  song,  though  he  had  an  ex- 
quisite ear  for  music,  and  was  said  to  be  a  connoisseur.  Mr. 
Parker  told  the  bishop  he  thought  he  could  produce  the 
tune ;  and  for  this  purpose  they  both  retired  to  the  woods. 
The  plan  for  its  production,  or  rather  reproduction,  was  this. 
The  preacher  sounded  the  various  notes,  and  the  bishop 
would  tell  him  when  a  note  accorded  with  the  tune.  Thus 
he  continued  till  he  had  written  every  note  of  the  entire  piece. 
The  time  for  preaching  having  arrived,  they  went  into  the 
congregation,  and,  to  the  utter  astonishment  of  the  bishop, 
the  tune  was  sung  to  appropriate  words ;  but  with  a  melody 
and  a  power  which  not  only  aff'ected  the  bishop,  but  the  whole 
congregation  to  tears." — Sketches  of  Western  Methodism. 


116 


THE  HEROES  OF  METHODISM. 


BISHOP  M'KEXDREE  AND  REV.  JOHN  F.  WRIGHT. 

"  When  I  was  stationed  in  Newbern,  Xortli  Carolina,"  says  the 
Rev.  J.  F.  Wright,  "  my  first  station.  Bishop  M'Kendree  made 
an  Episcopal  visit  to  that  place,  and  spent  some  time  with 
us.  As  I  was  a  young  preacher,  he  gave  me  much  instruc- 
tive and  excellent  advice ;  but  there  was  one  sentence  which 
made  a  deeper  impression  on  my  mind  than  all  the  rest. 
'  John,'  said  he,  '  you  must  be  guarded  here,  and  not  get 
as  flat  as  a  pancake  in  your  preaching;  try  to  keep  as 
round  as  a  bullet.'  This  advice  had  a  fine  practical  effect  upon 
the  preacher,  and  will  continue  its  influence  on  him  until  he 
dies.    A  word  in  season,  how  good  it  is !" 

This  is  not  a  distinction  without  a  difference.  What  a 
vast  difference  there  is  between  pancake  and  bullet  preach- 
ing !  The  one  flat,  the  other  round ;  the  one  soft,  the  other 
hard ;  the  one  inefficient,  the  other  effectual.  W^hat  effect 
■would  pancake  preaching  have  had  upon  the  extortioner? 
would  it  have  pierced  the  crust  of  his  selfishness  ?  Xo, 
nothing  but  bullet-preaching  would  answer.  Who  would 
not  pray  to  be  delivered  from  preaching  as  soft  and  flat  as 
a  pancake,  and  earnestly  desire  bullet-preaching,  the  preach- 
ing that  is  efficient? 

BISHOP  M'KENDREE'S  SERMON  BEFORE  THE  NEW- 
ENGLAND  CONFERENCE. 

The  Rev.  W.  C.  Larrabee  gives  the  following  beautiful  and 
life-like  description  of  the  personal  appearance  of  the  bishop, 
and  his  sermon  on  that  occasion  : 

"  I  had  once,  and  only  once,  the  good  fortune  to  see  and 
hear  Bishop  M'Kendree.  It  was  at  the  session  of  the  New- 
England  Conference,  at  Durham,  in  the  state  of  Maine,  in 
the  year  1814.  I  was  then  a  small  boy,  but  I  had  heard 
of  the  fame  of  Bishop  M'Kendree.    On  Sabbath  morning  I 


WILLIAM  M'KENDKEE. 


Ill 


made  my  way  over  the  fields  and  pastures,  and  through  the 
woods,  to  the  old  Methodist  Church,  which  stood  in  a  rural 
region  on  the  hill-side.  When  I  arrived  at  the  house  I  found 
no  room — not  so  much  as  about  the  door.  Being,  however, 
a  little  fellow,  I  contrived  to  work  a  tortuous  passage  through 
the  crowd,  and  to  reach  a  position  near  the  altar,  in  full 
view  of  the  preacher.  He  was  just  rising  to  give  out  his 
text.  His  tall  and  manly  form,  his  dignified  and  command- 
ing appearance,  struck  me  with  admiration.  Distinctly 
and  impressively  he  read  his  text,  Deuteronomy  xxx,  19 : 
'I  call  heaven  and  earth  to  record  this  day  against  you, 
that  I  have  set  before  you  life  and  death,  blessing  and 
cursing.  Choose  life,  that  both  thou  and  thy  seed  may  live.' 
Without  apology  or  laboured  introduction  he  proceeded  at 
once  to  his  main  subject.  His  manner  of  speaking  was  dif- 
ferent from  any  I  had  ever  heard.  He  would  speak  for  a 
few  sentences  rapidly,  in  a  colloquial  style ;  then  he  would 
rise  in  declamation,  and  make  the  old  house  ring  with  the 
powerful  tones  of  his  magnificent  voice.  Suddenly  he  would 
descend  to  a  lower  key,  and  employ  under-tones,  sweet  and 
soft  as  the  JEolian  lyre.  At  times  the  feelings  of  the  audi- 
ence would  become,  under  his  stirring  appeals,  most  intense, 
and  one  simultaneous  shout  would  leap  from  a  hundred 
tongues.  Young  as  I  was,  I  was  deeply  affected  with  wonder 
and  delight  at  the  powerful  eloquence  and  commanding  ap- 
pearance of  the  distinguished  stranger.  The  man,  the  man- 
ner, the  voice,  and  the  discourse,  all  made  on  my  youthful 
heart  an  impression,  which  the  long  years  that  are  passed 
have  failed  to  wear  away," 

BISHOP  M'KENDKEE'S  SERMON  AT  PARIS,  NEW-YORK. 

"During  the  session  of  the  Genesee  Conference  in  Paris, 
N.  Y.,  in  1816,"  says  the  Rev.  Abner  Chase,  "  Bishop  M'Ken- 
dree  preached  on  the  Sabbath  a  sermon  which  is  remem- 
bered by  many  until  the  present  time.    The  multitude 


118 


THE  HEROES  OF  METHODISM. 


assembled  on  the  occasion  was  very  great.  The  entire 
church  was  given  up  to  the  female  part  of  the  assembly ; 
and  even  then,  perhaps,  not  one-half  of  that  class  were  able 
to  get  in.  A  staging  was  prepared,  reaching  through  one 
of  the  windows  of  the  church — the  sash  being  removed,  so 
that  the  bishop  could  stand  within  or  without  the  house,  as 
he  might  choose  to  vary  his  position — and  seats  were  pre- 
pared on  the  north  side  of  the  house,  where  the  bishop  stood ; 
but  not  suflBcient  to  accommodate  more,  perhaps,  than  one- 
fourth  of  the  assembly.  The  greater  part  were  obliged  to 
stand,  pr  lose  the  opportunity  to  hear.  The  bishop  took 
his  stand ;  but  the  current  of  air  was  so  strong  through  the 
window,  and  his  asthmatic  affection  was  so  severe,  that  he 
hesitated  to  commence.  After  standing  a  short  time,  he 
called  me  to  him,  and  said,  '  I  think  I  cannot  succeed  in  an 
attempt  to  speak  here.'  I  told  him  if  he  thought  he  could 
not  preach  there,  we  would  clear  his  way  to  the  pulpit,  and 
those  who  could  not  hear  must  bear  their  disappointment. 
The  bishop  paused  again  for  a  moment,  and  then  stooping 
toward  me,  as  I  stood  upon  the  floor,  said,  with  a  smile 
which  was  peculiar  to  himself,  'I  will  try  it  here,  in  the 
name  of  the  Lord.'  That  expression  and  that  smile  are  as 
vividly  before  ray  mind  now  as  though  it  were  but  yester- 
day. He  commenced  and  gave  out  a  hymn  ;  after  this  was 
sung  he  knelt  upon  the  staging,  and  while  at  prayer  his 
voice  became  more  and  more  clear  and  strong.  He  arose 
and  gave  out  his  text,  1  Cor.  i,  22-24:  *For  the  Jews 
require  a  sign,  and  the  Greeks  seek  after  wisdom :  but  we 
preach  Christ  crucified,  unto  the  Jews  a  stumbling-block,  and 
unto  the  Greeks  foolishness ;  but  unto  them  which  are  called, 
both  Jews  and  Greeks,  Christ  the  power  of  God,  and  the 
wisdom  of  God.'  He  proceeded  for  a  few  minutes,  and  was 
evidently  rising  above  all  his  embarrassments,  and  exclaimed, 
'  Thanks  be  to  God,  the  shackles  are  all  off ;  there  is  no  tram- 
melling here  now  I'  I  can  only  say,  What  a  sermon !  and  what 
power  attended  it !    There  were  present  to  hear  this  sermon 


WILLIAM  M'KENDREE. 


110 


several  ministers  of  different  denominations  besides  our  own  ; 
and  when  the  services  were  closed  there  was  an  inquiry 
among  them,  one  after  another,  what  they  thought  of  the 

sermon.    'Why,'  said  one  of  them,  'Doctor  cannot 

hold  a  candle  to  him.'  " 

Bishop  M'Kendree  was  an  acquaintance  and  warm  friend 
of  General  Andrew  Jackson ;  and  in  the  course  of  this  ser- 
mon he  gave  some  striking  anecdotes  of  the  general,  which 
produced  a  fine  effect  upon  the  congregation.  I  will  relate 
one  of  them. 

GENERAL  JACKSON  AND  THE  NOISY  PRAYER- 
MEETING. 

The  memorable  8th  of  January,  the  day  of  the  battle 
of  New  Orleans,  was  a  Sunday.  The  general,  expecting 
every  hour  an  attack  from  the  British  army,  had,  in  the 
morning,  given  orders  that  no  man  should  be  far  from  his 
place,  and  that  the  strictest  order  should  be  preserved,  and 
no  unusual  noise  made  in  the  camp.  There  were  some 
pious  men  in  the  army,  who  had  assembled  in  one  of  the 
tents  after  breakfast,  and  engaged  in  a  prayer-meeting. 
Becoming  fervent  and  animated  in  prayer,  one  of  the  offi- 
cers came  to  the  tent  and  ordered  them  to  discontinue  the 
meeting,  alleging  that  they  were  disobeying  the  orders 
given  in  the  morning  by  General  Jackson.  They  assured 
the  officer  that  they  had  no  disposition  to  disobey,  and  if 
he  would  allow  them  the  privilege,  they  would  appeal  to 
the  general.  To  this  proposition  the  officer  assented,  and 
agreed  to  accompany  two  of  their  number  to  the  general's 
quarters,  to  hear  his  decision  of  the  question.  They  went, 
accordingly,  and  the  officer  stated  the  case  to  the  general, 
remarking  that  he  had  forbidden  the  continuance  of  the 
meeting  because  they  had  become  warm  and  loud  in  their 
prayers,  which  he  considered  a  violation  of  the  general's 
order  given  in  the  morning,  that  no  unusual  noise  should  be 


120 


THE  HEROES  OF  METHODISM. 


made  in  the  camp.  Upon  Avbich  the  general  replied,  "  God 
forbid  that  prayer  should  be  an  unusual  noise  in  my  camp." 
They  returned,  and  the  prayer-meeting  went  on  until  they 
were  called  into  the  field  of  battle. 

A  NOBLE  WOMAN  AXD  A  NOBLE  TOAST. 

The  other  anecdote  related  by  Bishop  M'Kendree  was  this. 
There  was  in  Xew  Orleans,  soon  after  the  battle,  a  meeting 
of  the  officers  of  the  army,  to  celebrate  the  victory  which  had 
recently  been  obtained,  to  which  celebration  the  officers, 
whose  wives  were  in  the  vicinity,  were  invited  to  bring  their 
ladies  with  them.  After  dinner  toasts  were  given  by  the  dif- 
ferent officers,  in  praise  of  General  ,  Colonel  ,  Major 

 ,  Captain   ,  &c.    After  which  the  ladies  w^re 

called  upon  for  taasts;  and  the  wife  of  the  officer  at  the 
head  of  the  table  was  personally  requested  to  give  the  first. 
She  hesitated,  but,  being  urged,  finally  gave  this  short  sen- 
tence, "  Glory  to  God !"  Upon  hearing  this  all  seemed 
struck  with  amazement ;  and,  after  a  short  pause,  one  of  the 
officers  expressed  his  surprise,  and  desired  the  lady  to 
explain.  In  reply  she  said :  "  I  have  sat  here  and  heard 
glory  given  to  man,  and  I  would  by  no  means  withhold 
or  oppose  giving  due  honour  to  the  good  and  the  brave. 
But  there  is  a  power  above  all  these,  without  the  aid  of 
which  these  valiant  men  could  have  achieved  no  victory; 
and  as  I  was  urged  to  express  a  sentiment,  I  felt  in  duty 
bound  to  acknowledge  the  hand  of  Jehovah  in  the  victory 
which  you  are  celebrating :"  and  then  added,  "  Gentlemen,  I 
again  say.  Glory  to  the  God  of  armies,  by  whose  aid  you  have 
obtained  this  victory."  To  this  sentiment  the  company  then 
responded  with  apparent  cheerfulness. 


WILLIAM  M'KENDREE. 


121 


BISHOP  M'KENDREE  AND  THE  LITTLE  BOY. 

"  At  a  camp-meeting,"  says  the  Rev.  J.  B.  Finley,  in  his 
Sketches  of  Western  Methodism,"  "  held  on  C.  S.  camp- 
ground, the  venerable  Bishop  M'Kendree  was  present,  and 
preached  to  the  children  and  young  people.  On  this  occa- 
sion the  bishop  noticed  a  little  boy  who  was  much  affected. 
Being  intimately  acquainted  with  the  family,  and  knowing 
the  child  well,  the  bishop  invited  him  into  the  tent,  and 
conversed  and  prayed  with  him,  laying  his  hand  upon  his 
little  head,  and  commending  him  to  God.  That  afternoon 
the  doors  of  the  church  were  opened,  and  this  boy  went  for- 
ward and  presented  himself  as  a  probationer.  He  was  re- 
ceived, and  continued  to  attend  regularly  to  his  religious 
duties,  never  absenting  himself  from  a  prayer-meeting  or  a 
class-meeting,  or  preaching,  when  he  could  attend.  He  was 
but  a  mere  child,  and  as  he  would  sit  in  class,  no  one,  either 
leader  or  preacher,  would  speak  to  him,  or  pay  him  any  at- 
tention. At  this  his  young  heart  was  much  aggrieved,  and 
he  was  sometimes  tempted  to  go  no  more ;  but  he  con- 
tinued to  hold  on  till  his  grandfather,  who  was  a  travelling 
preacher,  should  visit  them,  and  he  would  speak  to  him  on 
the  subject.  At  length  the  grandfather  came ;  and  when 
he  was  sitting  alone  one  day,  he  came  to  him  and  said : 

"  '  Grandfather,  I  want  to  ask  you  a  question.' 

"  'Well,  my  child,'  said  the  old  man,  '  what  is  your  wish  V 

" '  Well,  it  is  this,'  said  he : '  Do  you  think  I  am  too  young 
to  serve  God,  and  belong  to  the  Church  V 

" '  No,  not  at  all,  my  child,  said  the  venerable  saint,  with 
emotion.  *Your  mother  embraced  religion  when  she  was 
only  seven  years  of  age ;  aiid  we  have  many  examples  in  the 
Bible  where  children  became  religious  in  the  dawn  of  life, 
such  as  Samuel,  and  Josiah,  and  Timothy ;  and  the  Scrip- 
tures say,  "  Out  of  the  mouths  of  babes  and  sucklings  God 
has  perfected  praise."  ^  But  why  did  you  ask  this  question  ?' 


122 


THE  HEROES  OF  3IETH0DISM. 


"'At  a  camp-meeting,'  said  the  child,  'where  Bishop 
M'Kendree  preached  to  us  children,  I  resolved  I  would  be  a 
Christian ;  and  when  brother  C.  opened  the  doors  of  the 
church,  I  went  forward  and  joined.  I  have  been  to  meet- 
ing every  time  since,  and  staid  in  class ;  but  no  person  says 
a  word  to  me  about  religion,  and  I  thought  they  considered 
me  too  young  to  be  noticed.' 

"'Well,'  said  the  grandfather, ' I  will  go  with  you  to  meet- 
ing next  Sunday,  and  if  the  preacher  does  not  speak  to  you 
w^hen  he  meets  the  class,  do  you  rise  up  and  ask  him  the 
reason.    Do  you  understand  V 

" '  Yes,  grandfather,  I  will.' 

"  The  day  came,  and  the  grandfather  and  the  child  were 
at  meeting.  When  the  congregation  was  dismissed  the 
preacher  commenced  leading  his  class ;  and  all  were  spoken 
to,  as  usual,  but  the  little  boy.  He  made  an  effort  to  rise, 
but  his  heart  failed  him.  The  grandfather  seeing  this,  said, 
'  Brother  L.,  little  J.  has  a  question  to  ask  you.'  The  child 
then  rose,  and  in  a  simple  manner  gave  his  experience,  not 
forgetting  to  allude  to  his  not  having  been  spoken  to.  At 
this  the  preacher  blushed,  and  the  class-leader  wept,  one  af- 
ter the  other  confessing  their  delinquency,  and  promising  to 
do  better  for  the  future.  That  child  has  grown  to  manhood, 
and  has  a  family,  and  has  been  a  useful  and  highly  accept- 
able member  of  the  Church." 

There  is  a  moral  to  this  touching  incident.  Never  neglect 
or  overlook  a  child.  The  example  of  Bishop  M'Kendree  is 
worthy  of  imitation  as  well  as  admiration. 

BISHOP   M'KENDREE  AND  THE   UNION  MEETING- 
HOUSE. 

Union  meeting-houses  have  been  no  blessing  to  us,  but  a 
great  injury.  For  two  years  I  was  stationed  in  a  Union 
Church.  From  ever  being  stationed  in  another,  "good 
Lord,  deliver  me."  * 


WILLIAM  M'KENDKEE. 


123 


The  following  incident,  related  by  the  Rev.  Abner  Chase, 
will  illustrate  the  evil :  "  We  had  in  the  town  of  Litchfield, 
N.  Y.,  what  was  called  a  *  Union  meeting-house,'  built  by 
Presbyterians,  Baptists,  and  Methodists  ;  but,  as  is  the  case 
in  most  instances  of  the  kind,  instead  of  a  union  it  was  a 
contention  house.  In  1814  we  had  a  love-feast  and  a  sac- 
ramental season  appointed  there.  Bishop  M'Kendree  was 
passing  through  that  part  of  the  country,  and  he  spent  a 
Sabbath  with  us.  When  Sunday  morning  came,  a  certain 
man,  who  claimed  to  be  a  proprietor  in  the  house,  went  early 
in  the  morning  and  took  one  of  the  doors  from  the  hinges, 
laid  it  down  upon  the  floor,  and  sat  upon  it,  to  prevent  our 
holding  the  love-feast  in  due  form.  Having  learned  what 
was  going  on,  I  asked  the  bishop  if  he  was  willing  to  preach 
in  the  grove,  which  was  near  by,  to  which  he  consented. 
We  therefore  gave  up  the  love-feast,  and  before  preaching 
held  a  meeting  for  prayer  and  speaking  in  the  grove,  having 
previously  posted  a  man  in  front  of  the  church-yard,  to  notify 
the  people  where  the  meeting  was,  and  to  request  all  not  to 
go  to  the  church,  so  that  the  man  had  the  privilege  of  sit- 
ting upon  his  door  unnoticed  by  any  one,  until  he  was  weary 
and  ashamed ;  and  then  he  got  up  and  went  home." 

BISHOP  M'KENDREE  AND  HIS  DYING  SISTER. 

We  have  seen  the  bishop  on  the  circuit,  in  the  pulpit,  in  the 
chair  presiding  at  the  conference  ;  we  are  now  to  behold  him 
in  a  diflferent  attitude — in  the  room  of  his  dying  sister. 
We  enter  the  chamber  where  the  dying  sufferer  lay,  and 
behold  the  brother,  an  angel  of  mercy,  watching  by  her  dying 
bedside  till  angels  whispered, 

"  Sister  spirit,  come  away." 

We  read  of  a  friend  that  sticketh  closer  than  a  brother. 
Then  a  brother  will  stick  very  close;  the  love  of  a  true 
brother  indeed  is  pure,  genuine,  lasting.  This  was  the  case 
with  Bishop  M'Kendree.    The  following  pages  show  the 


124  THE  HEROES  OF  METHODISM. 


kind  of  heart  that  beat  in  his  bosom ;  the  sympathy  of  his 
nature,  the  tenderness  of  his  soul.  Never  does  he  appear 
greater  or  better  than  in  the  room  where  his  sister  exchanged 
mortahty  for  immortahty. 

The  bishop's  sister,  Frances,  was  converted  under  the  la- 
bours of  that  mighty  man  of  God,  John  Easter,  July  22d,  17 Si, 
Two  years  after,  her  mother  sweetly  fell  asleep  in  Jesus. 
In  1810  the  family  moved  to  Tennessee,  where  the  father 
died  triumphantly  in  1815,  having  lived  four-score  and 
eight  years.  A  few  weeks  before  the  death  of  the  venera- 
ble father,  the  daughter,  Frances,  was  married  to  the 
Rev.  Nathaniel  Moore.  In  1823,  consumption  began  to 
undermine  her  constitution,  and  threaten  her  dissolution. 
"On  the  18th  of  November,  her  brother.  Bishop  M'Ken- 
dree,  in  company  with  Bishop  Soule,  arrived  at  Mr.  Moore's, 
and  found  Mrs.  Moore  sinking  very  fast  under  the  pressure 
of  disease ;  but  her  mind  was  composed  and  calm.  She  had 
felt  the  want  of  religious  conversation  in  that  free  and  par- 
ticular manner  which  treats  of  the  feelings  of  the  heart,  and 
the  peculiar  exercises  of  the  mind  under  various  and  com- 
plicated afflictions ;  for  her  friends  had  by  some  means 
omitted  indulging  in  that  degree  of  freedom  with  her  which 
would  have  led  to  this  point.  The  way  being  opened  by  the 
bishops,  she  conversed  very  freely  and  frequently  on  the 
important  subject  of  religion,  in  which  she  unreservedly  spoke 
of  her  experience  and  manner  of  living  for  thirty-six  or  thirty- 
seven  years ;  of  the  evidence  she  had  of  her  acceptance  with 
God,  her  faith  in  Christ,  and  her  hope  of  eternal  happiness. 
She  said  she  felt  no  condemnation,  yet  she  was  conscious  of 
not  having  improved  the  grace  and  opportunities  afforded 
as  she  ought;  that  she  was  sensible  of  the  want  of  more 
grace,  and  earnestly  desired  a  more  free  and  easy  access  to  a 
throne  of  mercy,  and  more  intimate  communion  with  Jesus, 
She  said  she  was  not  willing  to  finish  her  course  without 
clearer  views  and  a  stronger  evidence  of  everlasting  happi- 
ness. 


WILLIAM  M'KENDREE. 


125 


"  On  the  24tli  the  bishops  left  Mr.  Moore's  to  attend  the 
conference  in  Columbia;  and  having  finished  the  business 
of  conference,  they  returned  to  Mr.  Moore's  on  the  2d  day  of 
December,  and  found  her  mind  nearly  in  the  same  situation 
as  when  they  left  her,  while  her  system  was  rapidly  declin- 
ing. She  earnestly  prayed  for  clear  views,  and  a  strong  evi- 
dence of  future  happiness,  and  was  supported  by  an  encour- 
aging expectation  that  her  prayer  would  be  answered.  She 
knew  that  God  was  with  her,  and  believed  that  he  would 
take  care  of  her.  She  was  not  flattered  either  by  her  phy- 
sicians or  friends :  they  had  for  some  time  given  up  all  hopes 
of  her  recovery,  and  she  was  informed  of  their  opinion,  nor 
did  she  manifest  any  symptoms  of  alarm  at  the  information  ; 
for  she  believed  as  they  did;  and  her  desire  to  know  God 
more  fully  increased  as  her  health  declined. 

"  On  the  16th  her  brother  left  her  to  visit  a  neighbouring 
society,  and  on  the  20th  he  returned,  and  found  her  mind 
still  calm  and  composed,  and  much  resigned  to  the  will  of 
God :  her  comfort  was  increased,  but  her  strength  fast  de- 
clining. She  was  very  free  and  particular  in  conversation 
on  her  situation  and  prospects  of  future  bliss  and  happi- 
ness. 

"  On  the  night  of  the  23d,  about  midnight,  the  bishop  was 
waked  up  and  called  to  visit  Mrs.  Moore.  He  hastened  to 
her  apartment,  and  found  her,  for  the  first  time,  much  ex- 
cited, and  her  sister,  who  was  watching  alone,  deeply  affected : 
neither  could  comfort  the  other.  Mrs.  Moore's  mind  was 
strongly  excited,  but  there  was  no  appearance  of  confusion 
or  fear:  it  assumed  the  character  of  deep  concern,  produced 
from  conviction.  With  nerves,  countenance,  and  roice  firm 
and  regular,  she  briefly  rehearsed  her  walk  with  God,  her 
faith  in  Christ,  and  "her  hope  of  happiness  after  death  ;  '  but 
now,'  said  she,  '  when  the  time  draws  nigh,  I  am  afraid.  I 
have  been  thinking  on  the  dreadful  consequences  of  being 
deceived.  How  if  I  never  had  religion !  if  it  has  all  been 
delusion !    How  shall  I  appear  before  my  Judge !   It  is  an 


126 


THE  HEROES  OF  METHODISM. 


awful  thought !  I  feel  fear,  and  it  alarms  me.'  Ihis  -was 
an  eventful  and  important  moment.  The  grand  enemy- 
had  assailed  her  with  all  his  art  and  subtilty,  and  was  about 
to  succeed  in  depriving  her  of  those  comforts  and  enjoyments 
which  enable  the  Christian  to  die  triumphantly;  but,  for- 
tunately for  her,  a  minister  of  Jesus  was  at  hand,  who  was 
30t  ignorant  of  Satan's  devices,  and  who  reflected  as  she 
made  those  statements,  and  at  once  saw  the  design  of  the 
enemy.  When  she  had  finished  her  observations,  the  bishop 
took  up  the  subject  of  temptation,  and  made  some  remarks 
on  its  nature,  the  design  of  the  tempter,  the  artful  form  of 
his  insinuations,  and  the  consequences  of  admitting  the 
probability  of  his  suggestions,  and  reasoning  on  them.  In 
a  situation  like  this  he  pointed  out  to  her  the  Christian's  re- 
course, showing  that  the  strength  of  Jehovah  was  pledged 
for  his  deliverance,  and  the  safety  to  be  enjoyed  by  trusting 
in  it ;  how  the  enemy  ought  to  be  met  on  such  occasions, 
and  the  way  of  exercising  faith  in  the  exceeding  great  and 
precious  promises  given  us  in  the  word  of  God,  together  with 
the  certainty  of  help  and  deliverance  from  the  Most  High. 
To  these  statements  Mrs.  Moore  listened  with  silent  and 
solemn  attention ;  after  which  she  paused,  as  if  her  mind 
was  examining  their  force;  then  asked  some  questions,  in 
order  to  remove  more  fully  every  shadow  of  difficulty  from 
her  mind  ;  after  which  she  reflected  some  moments,  and  said, 
'  I  am  satisfied,'  and  requested  that  she  might  lie  down. 
After  remaining  composed  for  some  time,  she  was  asked  if 
her  mind  was  at  rest.  She  replied,  *  Yes,  bless  the  Lord  !' 
*  Has  your  confidence  returned,'  said  the  bishop.  She  an- 
swered, '  Yes,  glory  to  God !  it  is  stronger  than  ever.'  After 
this  her  mind  remained,  as  usual,  tranquil  and  calm,  her 
faith  firm  in  Christ,  and  her  hopes  and  confidence  in  God 
strong  and  unshaken. 

"On  the  morning  of  the  2.5th,  about  six  o'clock,  the 
bishop  was  requested  to  hasten  to  her  room.  He  found  her 
bitting  in  the  bed,  supported  by  her  nephew  and  his  wife, 


WILLIAM  M'KENDREE.  12T 

♦ 

her  sister  and  two  servants,  all  bathed  in  tears,  expecting 
her  hour  had  come,  and  that  she  was  just  about  to  take  her 
flight  from  this  world;  but  it  proved  to  be  a  transport  of 
holy  joy,  altogether  out  of  the  ordinary  way  with  her. 
She  exclaimed,  'Jesus  is  come!  Glory  !  O,  the  joy — the 
consolation — the  fulness  of  free  salvation !  There  is  enough 
for  all  as  well  as  me !  Bless  the  Lord,  0  my  soul !  I  am 
not  only  happy,  perfectly  happy,  but  my  pain  is  all  gone. 
I  feel  well  and  strong  enough  to  run  a  mile.  Glory — 
honour  !  O,  love  Jesus !  for  he  is  good — very  good  to  me.' 
Her  observations  and  her  actions  throughout  this  extraordi- 
nary season  of  transport  and  joy  were  fully  expressive  of  an 
entire  exercise  of  reason,  a  firm  and  unshaken  faith,  together 
with  a  satisfactory  knowledge  of  the  evidences  on  which  her 
faith  rested.  It  was  divine  love  filling  the  heart,  and  run- 
ning over;  and  the  sacred  flame  was  felt  by  all  in  the 
room. 

"  On  Wednesday,  the  29th,  the  bishop  visited  her  very 
early  in  the  morning,  and  found  her  composed  and  happy : 
but  she  observed,  'Last  night  in  my  meditations,  as  I 
thought  seriously  on  death^  I  tried  to  bring  it  as  near  as  I 
could ;  but  in  approaching  it  I  felt  some  fear.  For  some 
time  I  have  felt  no  fear  of  death ;  but  now,  as  he  approaches 
nearer,  I  am  afraid.  What  can  be  the  cause  ?  Is  it  want 
of  grace  V  He  asked  her  if  death,  the  solemnity  and  pain 
•of  dying,  was  the  object  of  her  fear ;  or  was  the  object  of  her 
fear  beyond  death.  To  this  she  replied,  without  the  least 
hesitancy,  '  It  is  death  !  Dying  appears  to  be  very  solemn 
and  awful ;  but,  thank  God,  there  is  nothing  beyond  death 
but  what  appears  to  be  desirable  to  me :  but  why  should  we 
fear  to  die  V  This  seemed  to  be  the  last  effort  of  the  enemy 
to  assail  her,  an.d,  if  possible,  to  deprive  her  of  uninterrupted 
comfort;  but  the  Lord,  in  his  mercy  and  providence,  had 
sent  her  affectionate  brother,  Bishop  M'Kendree,  as  an  angel 
of  peace,  to  minister  comfort  and  consolation  to  her  in  this 
trying  moment.    After  some  remarks  on  our  innate  aver- 


128  THE  HEROES  OF  METHODISM. 

• 

sion  to  pain,  whicli  in  its  nature  is  an  object  of  fear,  he 
observed  to  Ler  that  affliction  is  not  joyous,  but  grievous ; 
that  our  Lord  prayed,  if  it  were  possible,  that  this  cup  (of 
suffering)  might  pass  from  him ;  and  that  if  martyrs  and 
saints  in  every  age,  and  to  the  present  day,  triumphed  over 
death,  it  was  not  because  death  and  pain  were  changed  in 
their  nature,  or  ceased  to  be  what  they  really  were,  the  last 
enemy  we  had  to  contend  with;  but  by  obtaining  such 
transporting  views  of  Jesus,  heaven,  and  glory,  as  St.  Stephen 
and  many  others  have  had,  by  which  their  faith  and  con- 
fidence are  so  confiraied  and  strengthened  that  they  are 
enabled  to  pass  triumphantly  through  death,  in  anticipation 
of  the  joys  which  enable  us  to  say,  '  0  death,  where  is  thy 
sting  ?  O  grave,  where  is  thy  victory  ?  The  sting  of  death 
is  sin,  and  the  strength  of  sin  is  the  law ;  but  thanks  be  to 
God  which  giveth  us  the  victory  through  our  Lord  Jesus 
Christ'  Her  mind  from  that  time  appeared  to  be  perfectly 
satisfied:  the  enemy  was  not  permitted  to  molest  her,  or 
mterrupt  her  peace. 

'  Not  a  cloud  did  arise  to  darken  the  skies, 
Or  hide  for  a  moment  the  Lord  from  the  eyes/ 

"On  the  morning  of  the  31st,  immediately  after  prayer, 
which  was  by  seven  o'clock,  her  brother  took  a  seat  near 
her  bedside,  but  said  nothing.  '  Brother,'  she  said,  with  a 
very  feeble  voice,  '  I  am  very  sick  this  morning.  I  am  sick 
all  over.'  He  replied,  *  Yes,  you  are  sick ;  we  see  it,  and 
none  of  us  can  help  you.'  'Xo,'  said  she,  'you  cannot  help 
me ;  but  you  would  if  you  could.'  '  But,'  said  he,  '  the 
Lord  can  help  you,  and  he  is  all-sufficient'  Her  countenance 
instantly  revived,  her  voice  resumed  its  usual  tone,  and  she 
said, '  Yes,  the  Lord  can  help  me  :  in  him  is  my  trust ;  to  him  I 
constantly  pray  when  I  am  awake,  and  I  have  confidence  that 
he  will  stand  by  me  and  support  me  to  the  last'  About 
twenty  or  thirty  minutes  afterward  she  was  raised  and  sup- 
ported on  the  bed,  and  prayer  was  again  proposed,  of  which 


WILLIAM  M'KENDREE. 


129 


she  approved,  and  desired  all  present  to  pray  constantly  for 
her,  and  to  bear  her  up.  While  at  prayer  she  would  add 
very  fervently,  '  Amen !  Lord,  hear  prayer.'  The  company 
rose  from  their  knees  weeping,  and  deeply  affected.  Being 
supported  as  she  sat  up  on  the  bed,  she  rejoiced  and  praised 
God.  Said  she,  '  I  have  an  abiding  confidence  in  God :  my 
joy  is  inexpressible.  I  am  perfectly  easy :  no  pain — no  dis- 
order about  me and  for  a  short  time  her  actions  in  some 
degree  corresponded  with  what  she  professed  to  feel.  She 
said,  '  I  am  resigned  to  the  will  of  God.  The  Lord  is  good. 
I  have  no  cause  of  complaint.  He  has  wiped  away  all  my 
tears.  I  have  no  tears  to  shed  with  you.'  Those  who  were 
present  remarked  the  change  from  extreme  debility  to  a  sur- 
prising degree  of  strength,  and  also  her  composure  and 
deliberate  manner  of  expression;  but  the  surprise  ceases 
when  we  consider  the  astonishing  effects  of  the  grace  of 
God  manifested  to  a  believer  in  Jesus.  This  being  the  day 
in  course  for  preaching  at  the  meeting-house,  she  was  in- 
formed that  the  bishop  desired  to  go  to  meeting,  if  it  met 
with  her  approbation.  She  said,  '  Yes,  0  yes !  go  to  meet- 
ing.' Sometimes  she  was  suddenly  attacked  with  overwhelm- 
ing sickness ;  and  when  asked  what  part  was  most  affected 
by  those  sudden  attacks,  she  would  say,  '  I  am  sick  all  over ; 
my  feelings  are  indescribable.'  Once  she  observed,  *  I  feel 
very  strangely  ;  it  affects  me  all  over ;'  and  very  composedly 
asked,  '  What  can  be  the  cause  ?  Is  it  death  V  On  this 
day,  about  eleven  o'clock,  a  very  sudden  attack  of  this 
sickness  took  place.  She  apprehended  approaching  dissolu- 
tion, and  expressed  a  wish  to  see  her  brother.  The  afflic- 
tion progressed  to  an  alarming  degree.  She  became  pale 
as  a  corpse;  the  organs  of  speech  ceased  to  perform  their 
office ;  she  was  perfectly  limber ;  and  every  one  present  ex- 
pected that  death  must  ensue.  However,  she  survived. 
Thirty-five  minutes  after  twelve  her  brother  returned,  and 
found  her  considerably  revived,  tolerably  easy,  quite  com- 
posed, and  perfectly  resigned  ;  but  she  was  exceedingly 


130 


THE  HEROES  OF  METHODISM. 


weak  and  feeble,  and  from  this  time  she  sunk  very 
fast. 

"On  the  morning  of  January  1st,  1825,  she  was  very 
feeble,  having  been  much  troubled  by  her  cough,  and  slept 
but  little  the  preceding  night.  At  half  past  ten  o'clock  she 
was  asked,  *  How  do  you  do  V  She  replied  with  a  feeble 
voice,  '  I  have  no  pain :  I  am  easy,  except  a  pressure  on 
the  lungs,  which  makes  it  hard  to  breathe  and  cough. 
I  am  very  feeble.  I  am  going  fast,  as  you  see.'  She  was 
asked  if  she  had  supporting  faith;  to  which  she  replied, 
'Strong  in  faith — all  is  well — bless  the  Lord!'  One 
present  said,  'Let  me  die  the  death  of  the  righteous:" 
to  which  she  responded,  'And  let  my  last  end  be  like 
his.' 

"On  Sabbath  morning,  January  2d,  she  said  in  broken 
accents,  '  O  that  I  could  talk  !'  About  four  o'clock,  as  her 
nephew  and  sister  stood  by,  and  supported  her — for  hei 
cough  was  so  troublesome  she  could  not  lie  down — she 
said,  *  Children,  how  is  your  faith  for  me  V  He  replied, 
'Mine  is  very  strong.'  She  said,  'Nancy,  how  is  yours?' 
The  answer  was,  '  Our  faith  is  strong.'  '  So  is  mine,'  said 
she,  and  added,  '  I  wanted  to  know,  for  I  am  almost  gone, 
but  have  a  strong  hope.' 

"Between  five  and  six  o'clock  on  the  mornino:  of  the 
3d,  her  brother  came  down  stairs,  and  on  entering  her  room, 
he  asked,  '  Is  all  well  V  She  answered,  '  Yes,  I  am  easy.' 
'  Have  you  peace  and  comfort  still  ?'  said  he.  She  replied, 
'  Yes,  my  peace  is  like  a  river.'  He  again  asked  her, '  Can  you 
trust  the  Lord  ?'  and  she  readily  answered,  '  I  have  full  con- 
fidence in  God — bless  the  Lord.'  About  nine  o'clock  her 
brother  was  called  in  haste  into  her  room.  She  sat  leaning 
on  her  nephew,  supported  by  his  wife  and  her  sister,  who 
Avere  all  absorbed  in  tears.  Her  aspect  was  indicative  of 
dissolution.  After  a  solemn  pausr,  the  bishop  asked  her, 
'Is  all  well?'  by  which  expression  she  knew  he  meant 
much;  and  she  answered,  'Yes,  Jesus  is  come.'    He  said, 


WILLIAM  M'KENDREE. 


181 


*  Amen — even  so,  come  Lord  Jesus !'  wlien,  with  her  hands 
feebly  raised,  she  responded,  '  So  be  it !  Glory  1  0,  the 
beauty !'  These  were  her  last  words.  She  was  gently 
inclined,  leaning  on  her  nephew,  and  supported  as  already 
mentioned;  and  in  this  position,  as  one  sweetly  falling 
asleep,  she  remained  perfectly  calm — no  cough  or  appear- 
ance of  pain.  Once,  on  attempting  to  swallow,  her  throat 
being  very  sore,  a  wrinkle  was  seen  in  her  face ;  but  it  was 
only  for  a  moment,  and  her  face  resumed  its  natural  smooth- 
ness. In  about  fifteen  or  twenty  minutes  her  breath  grew 
shorter,  but  she  breathed  easily  with  her  mouth  closed :  her 
hands  and  eyes  were  in  their  usual  praying  position.  At 
length  she  extended  her  arms,  with  an  easy,  regular  motion, 
and  moved  or  straightened  them  twice ;  her  chin  gradually 
dropped ;  and  without  a  struggle,  or  the  least  appearance 
of  any  exertion,  reaching  after  breath,  a  groan  or  sigh,  she 
fell  asleep  as  in  the  arms  of  her  Saviour.  An  exit  from  this 
world  so  composed  and  easy,  and  at  the  same  time  so 
triumphant,  falls  to  the  lot  of  but  few;  and  as  her 
nephew's  wife  said,  a  few  minutes  after  she  ceased  to 
breathe,  so  will  I  say,  *0  that  my  last  end  may  be  like 
hers.'" 

Such  is  the  description  given  by  the  Rev.  Thomas  L. 
Douglass,  of  the  bishop  and  his  dying  sister,  Frances,  who 
was  lovely  in  life,  and  still  more  lovely  in  death.  The 
account  was  published  in  the  Methodist  Magazine  in  1826, 
from  which  I  have  made  the  above  extracts. 

It  is  singular  that  the  words  which  the  bishop  twice  ad- 
dresses to  Frances,  "  Is  all  well  ?"  were  his  own  last  words 
as  he  was  "  passing  away."  The  dying  hero  exclaimed,  "  All 
is  well !" 

Long  ago  the  brother  and  sister  have  met  where  all  will  be 
eternally  well,  in  the  regions  of  perpetual  sunshine,  "  where 
no  friend  goes  out,  no  enemy  comes  in." 


132 


THE  HEROES  OF  METHODISM. 


BISHOP  M'KENDREE'S  FAREWELL  TO  THE  GENERAL 
CONFERENCE. 

"  I  was  present,"  says  the  Rev.  James  Quinn,  "  when  Dr.  Coke 
presided  for  the  last  time  in  the  General  Conference;  also 
when  the  sainted  Whatcoat  for  the  last  time  sat  in  the  chair 
of  the  General  Conference.  So,  also,  when  we  were  blessed 
for  the  last  time  with  the  presence  and  godly  counsel  of  the 
never-to-be-forgotten  Asbury;.  I  was  present  at  the  General 
Conference  in  which  George — the  holy,  fervent,  spirited 
Bishop  George — last  presided.  I  also  heard  with  strong 
emotion  our  dear  M'Kendree's  valedictory,  which  he  de- 
livered, placing  his  right  hand  on  the  shoulder  of  Bishop 
Soule,  who  leaned  forward  to  support  him,  while  Bishops 
Roberts  and  Hedding  supported  hira  on  the  left,  and  Bish- 
ops Andrew  and  Emory  sat  before  him,  within  the  railing 
around  the  communion  table.  As  the  venerable  man  re- 
tired, supported  by  Dr.  Bangs  and  Bishop  Soule — one  on 
either  hand — I  said  to  brother  Akers,  'I  think  we  have 
seen  his  face,  we  have  heard  his  voice,  for  the  last  time  in 
the  General  Conference.'  "  It  was  so.  The  General  Confer- 
ence spoken  of  was  held  in  Philadelphia,  May,  1832. 
When  the  venerable  M^Kendree  was  leaving  the  conference, 
conscious  that  it  was  the  last  time,  he  bade  them  an  affec- 
tionate farewell.  Most  touching  was  the  scene,  worthy 
of  a  painter's  pencil.  It  is  thus  described  by  Dr.  Bangs, 
and  nothing  in  his  whole  History  is  more  graphic.  He  says, 
speaking  of  the  venerable  M'Kendree :  "  Like  a  patriarch  in 
the  midst  of  his  family,  with  his  head  silvered  over  with  the 
frosts  of  seventy-five  winters,  and  a  countenance  beaming 
with  intelligence  and  good-will,  he  dehvered  his  valedictory 
remarks,  which  are  remembered  with  lively  emotions. 
Rising  from  his  seat  to  take  his  departure,  the  day  before 
the  conference  adjourned,  he  halted  for  a  moment,  leaning 
on  his  staff;  with  faltering  lips,  his  eyes  swimming  with 


WILLIAM  JVTKENDEEE. 


133 


tears,  he  said :  *  My  brethren  and  children,  love  one  another. 
Let  all  things  be  done  without  strife  or  vainglory,  and  strive 
to  keep  the  unity  of  the  Spirit  in  the  bonds  of  peace.'  He 
then  spread  forth  his  trembling  hands,  and,  lifting  his  eyes 
toward  the  heavens,  pronounced,  with  faltering  and  aflfection- 
ate  accents,  the  apostolic  benediction." 

Says  another:  "They  all  gazed  upon  his  bowed  and 
feeble  form  as  he  passed  from  their  midst,  and  felt  but  too 
^earful  forebodings,  that  he  was  present  for  the  last  time. 
Prayers  and  tears  marked  his  exit ;  but  there  was  joy  in  his 
heart — the  joy  of  a  weary  labourer  who  feels  that  the  sun 
has  well-nigh  approached  the  horizon,  and  that  its  setting 
will  bring  him  the  sweetest  repose." 

BISHOP  m'KENDREE  AND  THE  NEW-YORK  CONFER- 
ENCE. 

Bishop  M'Kendree,  in  his  administration,  was  generally  mild, 
and  at  the  same  time  firm  as  the  hills.  Even  the  vote  of 
an  annual  conference  could  not  induce  him  to  perform  an 
act  he  knew  unconstitutional. 

"  A  debate  once  arose,"  says  Dr.  Bangs,  "  in  the  New- 
York  Conference,  respecting  electing  a  man  to  elder's  orders, 
who  had  been  a  travelling  deacon  only  one  year,  because  he 
had  travelled  for  several  years  in  connexion  with  the  Wes- 
ley an  Conference  in  England,  and  he  was  finally  elected. 
In  the  course  of  the  debate,  one  of  the  speakers,  averse  to 
the  proposed  election,  pleaded  that  if  elected,  the  presiding 
bishop  would  be  compelled  to  assume  the  character  of  a 
pope,  and  refuse  to  ordain  him.  After  the  question  was  de- 
cided, the  bishop  arose  and  informed  the  conference,  in  mild 
but  firm  tones,  that,  with  all  his  respect  for  the  decision  of 
the  conference,  he  must  decline  to  ordain  the  brother ; 
*  But,'  said  he,  '  in  doing  this,  I  deny  the  imputation  that 
I  assume  the  character  of  the  pope,  for  I  act  according 
to  your  laws,  by  which  I  am  forbidden  to  consecrate  a  per- 


134  THE  HEROES  OF  METHODISM. 

son  to  the  office  of  an  elder  until  he  shall  have  travelled 
two  years  as  a  deacon,  unless  in  case  of  missionaries,  and 
this  brother  does  not  appear  in  the  character  of  a  mission- 
ary. Were  I,  therefore,  to  ordain  him  according  to  your 
vote,  I  might  be  impeached  at  the  next  General  Conference 
for  an  unconstitutional  act,  for  which  I  could  otfer  no  reason- 
able excuse.  Hence  it  is  not  an  assumption  of  unauthorized 
power,  in  imitation  of  the  Pope  of  Rome,  in  defiance  of  law 
and  order,  by  which  I  refuse  to  comply  with  your  request, 
but  it  is  a  deference  I  feel  for  constitutional  law,  made  and 
sanctioned  by  yourselves,  and  from  the  infraction  of  which 
I  am  bound,  by  my  office,  alike  to  protect  both  you  and  my- 
self. Repeal  your  law,  and  make  a  different  regulation, 
and  I  will  bow  to  it  with  all  readiness ;  but  while  the  law 
exists,  I  am  bound  to  obey  it,  and  to  see  that  it  is  obeyed 
by  others.'  This  sensible  appeal  induced  the  conference  to 
reconsider  its  vote,  and  the  motion  to  elect  was  withdrawn. 
Thus  the  good  sense  of  the  bishop,  united  with  such  a  com- 
mendable firmness,  saved  both  him  and  the  conference  from 
perpetrating  an  unconstitutional  act." 

m'kendree  and  the  youxg  preacher. 

The  historian  of  Methodism  says,  "  I  remember,  on  a  cer- 
tain occasion,  a  young  preacher  of  more  confidence  than  pru- 
dence, who  had  left  some  small  business  to  become  an  itin- 
erant, was  boasting  of  the  great  sacrifices  he  had  made  for 
the  cause,  when  Bishop  M'Kendree  checked  him  by  asking, 
in  his  peculiarly  soft  and  mild  manner,  *  Brother,  have  you 
made  greater  sacrifices  than  St.  Paul  resolved  to  do  when 
he  said,  If  meat  make  ray  brother  to  offend,  I  will  eat  no 
more  meat  while  the  world  standeth  Or  those  who  said, 
"TFe  have  left  all  for  thy  sakeP''^  I  need  not  say  a  sense 
of  shame  sat  on  the  countenance  of  this  vain  boaster." 


REY.  EIOCH  GEORGE. 


THE  REV.  ENOCH  GEORGE. 


Virginia  is  not  only  the  mother  of  presidents,  but  the 
mother  of  bishops.  To  her  we  are  indebted  for  two  of  our 
excellent  bishops,  William  M'Kendree  and  Enoch  George, 
as  well  as  another  who  was  worthy  of  the  office,  and  came 
very  near  it,  namely,  Jesse  Lee,  the  apostle  of  Methodism 
in  New-England.  They  were  not  only  natives  of  Virginia, 
but  were  both  converted  under  the  labours  of  the  Rev.  John 
Easter. 

Enoch  George  was  born  in  Lancaster  county,  Virginia,  in 
1161  or  1*768,  he  could  not  tell  which,  the  family  records 
having  been  consumed  by  fire.  John  Easter  was  the  first 
Methodist  minister  he  ever  saw  or  heard ;  and  young  Enoch 
was  disposed  to  ridicule  his  parents,  who  attended  his  preach- 
ing, and  were  seriously  inclined.  His  father  overheard  it,  and 
said  to  him  in  a  tone  of  parental  authority  which  his  son 
never  forgot,  "  Let  me  never  hear  anything  of  that  nature 
escape  your  lips  again." 

Soon  after  this  he  was  converted  to  God,  and  identified 
himself  with  the  Methodists,  whom  he  had  formerly  affected 
to  despise.  Afterward  he  was  thrust  into  the  ministry,  for, 
through  diffidence,  he  reluctantly  obeyed  the  heavenly  call. 
He  travelled  first  with  the  Rev.  Philip  Cox,  who  was  at 
that  time  "book  steward,"  and  who  was  a  father  to  young 
George,  and  to  whom  he  felt  under  a  lifetime  obligation  for 
his  kindness  to  him  at  this  critical  point  in  his  ministerial 
career. 

In  1791  Enoch  George  was  received  on  trial  in  the 
travelling  connexion.    His  health  failed,  and  in  1801  he 


138  THE  HEEOES  OF  METHODISM. 


located,  and  was  employed  in  teaching  school.  The  reason 
for  his  location  was  very  commendable,  and  showed  the  heart 
of  a  man — that  he  might  not  be  supported  by  the  conference 
funds,  while  he  was  not  doing  the  work  of  an  evangelist. 
When  his  health  was  restored,  in  1803,  he  again  with  joy 
entered  the  itinerant  ranks,  and  never  located  till  he  located 
in  the  neighbourhood  of  the  throne  of  God. 

In  May,  1816,  he  was  elected  and  ordained  bishop.  For 
twelve  years  he  performed  the  arduous  and  responsible 
duties  pertaining  to  his  oflBce,  and  then  died  in  the  triumphs 
of  our  holy  religion,  at  Staunton,  Virginia,  August  23d,  1828. 
"Bishop  George  was  a  man  of  deep  piety,  of  great  sim- 
plicity of  mannei-s,  a  very  pathetic,  powerful,  and  successful 
preacher;  greatly  beloved  in  life,  and  very  extensively  la- 
mented in  death." — Minutes^  1829.  "What  a  testimony  to 
his  character  as  a  man,  as  a  preacher,  as  a  bishop  I  What 
more  could  any  person  wish  said  concerning  him  when  the 
clods  of  the  valley  cover  him  !  It  can  be  truly  said  of  him 
as  of  one  of  old,  "  Enoch  walked  with  God,  and  was  not,  for 
God  took  him." 

The  following  description  of  his  person  and  of  his  preach- 
ing is  extracted  from  a  memoir  by  the  Rev.  S.  Luckey, 
D.  D.: 

"Bishop  George  was  a  man  of  an  interesting  personal 
appearance,  especially  for  the  grave  profession  of  the  minis- 
try. He  was  about  five  feet  ten  inches  high ;  the  ffame  of 
his  body  was  large  and  well-proportioned,  with  something 
of  an  inclination  to  corpulence ;  and  he  appeared  every  way 
formed  for  physical  strength  and  energy.  When  standing, 
whether  in  conversation  or  otherwise,  he  usually  maintained 
a  very  erect  posture,  with  his  hands  thrown  behind  him ; 
but  when  walking,  he  inclined  a  little  forward,  with  his 
hands  in  the  same  position,  and  moved  with  a  short,  quick 
step. 

"  The  aspect  of  his  countenance,  as  well  as  the  frame  of 
his  body,  impressed  the  beholder  with  an  idea  of  strength 


ENOCII  GEORGE. 


139 


and  energy.  His  face  was  broad ;  the  forehead  prominent, 
and  well  spread  ;  the  nose  large,  and  rather  flat ;  the  eyes 
of  a  blue  cast,  and  deep  set  in  their  sockets ;  the  eyebrows 
dark,  and  considerably  projected  ;  the  mouth  and  lips  in  due 
proportion  with  the  other  features  of  the  face :  a  full  suit  of 
hair,  dark  and  mixed  with  gray,  rather  neglected,  yet  grace- 
ful, hung  about  his  neck  ;  and  his  complexion,  which  was 
once  probably  fair,  had  become  sallow  through  excessive 
exposures  and  fatigues.  Whatever  impression  his  strongly- 
marked  countenance  might  have  been  calculated  to  give, 
had  it  been  moulded  by  the  internal  workings  of  corrupt 
and  malignant  passions,  in  the  light  of  the  holy  aftections 
which  beamed  in  it,  there  were  charms  displayed  which 
rendered  it  lovely,  calculated  to  impress  the  image  of  it  in- 
delibly on  the  affectionate  remembrance  of  the  numerous 
fneuds  who  had  tlie  pleasure  of  his  acquaintance. 

"His  body  and  mind  were  symmetrically  constituted, 
with  a  remarkable  adaptation  to  each  other.  Like  the 
former,  the  latter  was  fashioned  after  an  enlarged  model. 
Under  all  circumstances  it  appeared  to  be  of  an  original 
cast  and  independent  bearing.  He  was  everywhere  the 
thinking,  active  agent,  rather  than  the  sequestered,  plodding 
theorist.  All  his  powers  were  employed  in  carrying  into 
effect  such  measures  of  practical  utility  as  he  deemed  best 
calculated  to  promote  the  cause  of  Christ.  To  do  was,  in 
fact,  his  motto ;  and  no  man  ever  adhered  more  strictly  and 
perseveringly  to  the  true  import  of  it.  Everything  about 
him,  mind  or  body,  was  energy.  He  thought  rapidly, 
spoke  fluently,  decided  promptly,  and  permitted  nothing  in 
which  he  was  engaged  to  hang  heavily  upon  his  hands.  He 
detested  tardiness,  as -the  murderer  of  time;  and  never  failed 
to  signify  his  disapprobation  of  a  dull  and  languid  course 
of  proceeding  in  the  transaction  of  business,  or  of  unimport- 
ant discussions  calculated  to  retard  its  progress.  Wherever 
he  was,  everything  with  which  he  had  any  connexion  was 
destined  to  feel  the  impulse  of  his  propelling  energies. 

7 


140  THE  HEROES  OF  METH0DIS:M. 


"As  a  preacher,  Bishop  George  was  a  burning  and 
shining  light.  He  was  possessed  of  rare  and  commanding 
talents  for  a  public  speaker.  His  voice  was  strong,  yet 
sweet  and  musical,  and  incomparably  adapted  to  grave  and 
pathetic  subjects.  These  captivating  and  attracting  peculi- 
arities gave  to  his  ecstatic  effusions,  in  which  he  abounded, 
an  air  of  solemnity,  which  apathy  itself  could  not  resist. 
Nothing  could  be  calculated  more  effectually  to  touch  the 
feelings  of  the  human  heart,  to  wither  the  shoots  of  pride 
springing  up  in  it,  and  to  melt  down  its  hardness,  than  was 
the  strain  of  original  eloquence  which  characterized  the 
preaching  of  this  excellent  man.  Originality  was,  indeed,  a 
prominent  feature  of  his  preaching.  Endowed  with  all  the 
qualifications  which  are  necessary  to  constitute  an  impressive 
natural  pubhc  speaker,  he  imitated  no  one,  and  drew  always 
from  his  own  resources.  The  ornaments  and  flowers  which 
embellished  his  sermons  were  notgleaned  from  the  fields  and 
gardens  cultivated  by  any  scientific  master;  but  were  the 
natural  production  of  his  own  fertile  mind.  His  style  was  a 
mixture  of  the  sublime  and  the  pathetic,  and  might  be  con- 
sidered, alternately,  a  very  good  specimen  of  each,  in  purely 
extemporaneous  productions.  To  the  rules  of  rhetoric,  or 
the  arts  of  studied  eloquence,  he  paid  little  regard ;  but  if 
the  true  eloquence  of  the  pulpit  be,  as  Blair  defines  it,  *to 
make  an  impression  on  the  people — to  strike  and  seize  their 
hearts,'  he  was  a  master,  and,  in  comparison  with  thousands 
who  claim  to  be  such,  more  than  a  master.  No  man  ever 
succeeded  more  uniformly  to  move  his  congregation  to  tears, 
and,  sometiir^s,  even  to  trembling  and  loud  cries,  than  did 
Bishop  George." 

The  late  Abner  Chase,  of  the  Genesee  Conference,  who  was 
intimately  acquainted  with  Bishop  George,  and  frequently 
corresponded  with  him,  thus  describes  him  as  a  man  and  a 
preacher : 

"  I  was  more  familiarly  acquainted  with  Bishop  George 
than  with  any  other  of  our  superintendents,  having  been  his 


ENOCH  GEOEGE. 


141 


travelling  companion  at  different  times  for  many  hundred 
miles.  I  am  aware  that  my  powers  of  description  are  quite 
too  meagre  for  my  subject ;  yet  I  will  state  a  few  things  of 
the  man,  and  his  manner  or  style  of  preaching.  For  apos- 
tohc  simplicity  and  zeal,  I  believe  he  has  had  few  equals, 
and  no  superiors,  since  the  commencement  of  the  present 
century.  Many  solemn  and  pleasant  seasons  have  I  spent 
with  him  in  prayer,  when  in  the  evening  shades  we  have 
walked  together  into  the  fields  or  groves.  The  bishop  had 
an  utter  aversion  to  everything  like  show  or  parade,  and 
cared  but  little  for  appearances  or  the  customs  of  the  world, 
and,  therefore,  would  never  have  his  likeness  taken.  Though 
he  was  a  warm  friend  of  learning  and  science,  and  spent  a 
great  number  of  years  in  teaching,  yet  he  loathed  the 
appearance  of  a  pedantic  display,  or  the  foppery  of  learning. 
As  to  his  style  in  preaching,  those  who  have  had  the 
privilege  of  hearing  him  will  not  think  themselves  under 
any  obligation  to  me  for  attempting  to  describe  it ;  yet  for 
the  sake  of  those  who  have  never  heard  him,  I  will  state 
that  his  style  was  simple,  chaste,  and  flowing,  and  at  the 
same  time  pathetic  beyond  comparison ;  and  his  flights 
of  eloquence  were  often  overpowering,  when  he  would  carry 
his  congregation  away  as  with  a  flood,  which  was  raised 
they  knew  not  how.  Often  he  would  say,  '  It  is  the  gram- 
matical eloquence  of  the  Holy  Ghost  that  deeply,  lastingly, 
and  profitably  aflfects  the  hearts  of  men.'  " 

The  following  was  written  by  Dr.  Wilbur  Fisk,  late  Pres- 
ident of  the  Wesleyan  University.  It  shows  the  exalted 
estimation  in  which  the  doctor  held  the  pathetic  George. 
Long  since  they  have  met  in  that  world  where 

*'  Perfect  love  and  friendship  reign 
To  all  eternity." 

It  was  written  in  a  lady's  album,  and  was  the  spontane- 
ous efiusion  of  a  heart  full  of  love  and  veneration  for  the  de- 
parted bishop : 


142  THE  HEROES  OF  METHODISM. 


"Bishop  George  has  gone  to  heaven.  He  left  this  world 
for  glory  on  the  23d  of  August  last;  and  from  the  known 
tendency  of  his  soul  heavenward,  and  his  joyous  haste  to  be 
gone,  there  can  be  little  doubt  but  his  chariot  of  fire  reached 
the  place  of  its  destination  speedily,  and  the  triumphant 
saint  has  long  ere  this  taken  his  seat  with  the  heavenly 
company.  And  since  he  is  gone,  the  owner  of  this,  to  whom 
I  am  a  stranger,  will  pardon  me  if,  upon  one  of  her  pages,  I 
register  my  affectionate  remembrance  of  a  man  whom  I  both 
loved  and  admired,  and  at  the  report  of  whose  death  my 
heart  has  been  made  sick.  I  loved  him,  for  he  was  a  man 
of  God,  devoted  to  the  Church  with  all  his  soul  and  strength. 
I  loved  him,  for  his  was  an  affectionate  heart,  and  he  was  my 
friend.  But  the  servant  of  God — the  servant  of  the  Church 
and  my  friend  is  dead.  I  admired  him,  not  for  his  learn- 
ing, for  he  was  not  a  learned  man ;  but  nature  had  done 
much  for  him.  She  had  fashioned  his  soul  after  an  enlarged 
model,  and  had  given  it  an  original  cast  and  an  independ- 
ent bearing ;  into  the  heart  she  had  instilled  the  sweetening 
influences  of  a  tender  sympathy,  and  infused  into  the  soul 
the  fire  of  a  spirit-stirring  zeal,  sustained  by  a  vigorous  and 
untiring  energy  ;  but  to  finish  his  character,  grace  comes  in 
and  renews  the  whole  man,  and  the  Spirit  anointed  him  to 
preach  the  Gospel,  and  the  Church  consecrated  him  to  be  one 
of  her  bishops.  He  superintended  with  dignity  and  faithful- 
ness, he  preached  the  Gospel  with  the  Holy  Ghost  sent  down 
from  heaven.  The  unction  that  attended  his  word  was  not 
merely  like  the  consecrating  oil  that  ran  down  Aaron's 
beard,  but  it  was  like  the  anointing  of  the  Spirit  that  pene- 
trates the  heart.  He  preached  with  his  soul  full  of  glory. 
No  wonder,  then,  that  his  dying  words  were, '  I  am  going,  and 
that's  enough  !  Glory  !  glory  !'  Yes,  thou  triumphant  spirit, 
that  is  enough.  '  May  I  die  the  death  of  the  righteous,  and 
may  my  last  end  be  like  his !'  " 


ENOCH  GEORGE. 


143 


ENOCH  GEORGE'S  FIRST  INTERVIEW  WITH  BISHOP 
ASBURY. 

Shortly  after  Enoch  George  commenced  preaching,  while 
travelling  with  Philip  Cox,  they  met  Bishop  Asbury.  Mr. 
Cox  said  to  the  bishop,  "  I  have  brought  you  a  boy,  and  if 
you  have  anything  for  him  to  do,  you  may  set  him  to  work." 
Mr.  George,  in  his  autobiography,  says,  "  Bishop  Asbury  looked 
at  me  for  some  time ;  at  length  calling  me  to  him,  he  laid  my 
head  upon  his  knee,  and  stroking  my  face  with  his  hand,  he 
said :  '  Why,  he  is  a  beardless  boy,  and  can  do  nothing.' 
I  then  thought  my  travelling  was  at  an  end."  But  it  had 
only  just  begun.  The  next  day  the  bishop  accepted  of  his 
services,  and  gave  him  a  circuit.  Young  George,  without 
"  conferring  with  flesh  and  blood,"  entered  upon  his  new  and 
untried  field  of  labour.  The  bishop  would  often  treat  young 
preachers  in  the  same  way.  He  pursued  a  similar  course 
with  Thomas  Ware  and  many  others.  It  appears  to  have 
been  his  design  to  see  if  they  had  any  moral  back-bone,  the 
boldness  necessary  to  be  a  successful  hero  at  that  period  of 
the  history  of  the  Church. 

ENOCH  GEORGE'S  PERSONAL  RELIGIOUS  HABITS. 

The  following  account  I  have  received  from  a  friend  who 
was  intimately  acquainted  with  Bishop  George  : 

"  I  had  a  better  personal  knowledge  of  Bishop  George 
than  of  any  of  the  other  of  our  bishops.  I  have  heard 
him  preach  often.  His  sermons  were  full  of  energy,  pathos, 
and  the  Holy  Ghost ;  they  were  calculated  to  do  much  good. 


144  THE  HEROES  OF  METHODISM. 

Early  in  the  winter  of  1826  the  bishop  visited  Elkton,  the 
county  town  of  Cecil  county,  Maryland,  where  I  then  lived 
and  travelled  Cecil  circuit.  I  had  the  privilege  of  entertain- 
ing him  and  of  accompanying  him  to  several  appointments. 
He  was  deeply  pious,  grave,  and  dignified,  yet  was  social  and 
courteous,  and  very  humble.  He  certainly  exceeded  any  per- 
son I  ever  knew  in  private  prayer.  Having  lodged  with  him, 
I  have  personal  knowledge  of  this.  He  would  wrap  his 
cloak  around  him,  and  no  matter  how  cold,  he  w^ould  con- 
tinue over  half  an  hour  praying,  groaning,  wrestling,  agoniz- 
ing ;  thus  he  had  close  and  intimate  communion  with  God. 
This  accounts  for  the  holy  unction  that  generally  attended  his 
preaching.  He  was  a  good  minister  of  the  New  Testament, 
great  in  zeal,  great  in  energy,  great  in  usefulness,  and,  if  he 
had  no  abiding-place  on  earth,  he  had  a  home  in  heaven." 

GEORGE  AND  THE  VALLEY  OF  BACA. 

Enoch  George  was  emphatically  the  weeping  prophet.  His 
soul  was  full  of  sympathy,  and  his  eyes  often  filled  with 
tears.  He  could  say  with  David,  "  Rivers  of  water  run  down 
mine  eyes,  because  they  keep  not  thy  law  ;"  or,  like  Paul,  "  I 
have  told  you  often,  and  tell  you  again,  even  weeping,"  <fec. 
He  would  take  his  fingers  and  wipe  the  tears  from  under  his 
spectacles  in  a  peculiar  manner.  His  sermons  were  steeped 
in  tears.  Some  suppose  it  a  mark  of  weakness  to  weep. 
Was  it  weakness  in  David,  in  Jeremiah,  in  Paul,  in  Jesus  ? 
No.  It  is  manly  to  weep  when  there  is  cause  for  tears ;  manly 
to  feel  when  there  is  cause  for  feeling.  It  was  the  overflow 
of  the  bishop's  soul.  It  was  the  gushing  forth  of  his  amaz- 
ing sympathy.  His  tears  did  not  lie  directly  under  the  sur- 
face, where  they  could  be  called  for  at  any  time,  but  they 
came  from  a  deep  spring  within,  a  fountain  of  feeling,  that 
told  what  kind  of  a  heart  beat  in  his  bosom,  and  what  kind 
of  a  soul  dwelt  in  his  body.  The  bishop  sowed  in  tears,  and 
no  doubt  is  reaping  in  joy.    He  went  forth  weeping,  bearing 


ENOCH  GEORGE. 


145 


precious  seed,  and  will  doubtless  come  again  with  rejoicing, 
bringing  his  sheaves  with  him.  Dr.  Bangs  says.  Bishop 
George  was  "  naturally  eloquent,  and  his  eloquence  was  all 
natural."  Another  says,  "  His  deep  and  irresistible  pathos 
rendered  him  one  of  the  most  popular  preachers  that  were 
ever  raised  up  among  our  fathers.  His  was  the  talent  to 
move  the  heart." 

GEORGE  AND  HIS  FIRST  CIRCUIT. 

The  "beardless  boy"  went  to  his  circuit  and  commenced 
his  work ;  it  was  new,  large,  rough,  and  mountainous.  He 
fared  poorly,  and  had  often  to  put  up  with  irreligious  people. 
He  was  without  money,  and  his  clothes  were  worn  out.  He 
became  disheartened,  and  wrote  to  Bishop  Asbury,  describing 
the  difficulties  under  which  he  laboured,  and  requesting  to  be 
removed  to  some  other  circuit. 

Bishop  Asbury  answered  his  communication  in  his  own 
aifectionate  and  pleasant  way,  saying,  "  It  was  good  for  him 
and  all  others  to  bear  the  yoke  in  their  youth ;  that  itinerant 
labours  must  be  hard  if  properly  performed,  and  that  it  was 
better  to  become  inured  to  poverty  and  pain,  hunger  and 
cold,  in  the  days  of  his  youth,  that  when  he  was  old  and 
gray-headed  the  task  would  be  easy." — Autobiography. 
This  advice  he  followed  to  the  letter,  and  continued  on  his 
rough  circuit,  in  the  midst  of  hard  rides  and  poor  fare,  to 
*'  preach  the  unsearchable  riches  of  Christ."  Enoch  George 
ever  after  remembered  the  sentiment  of  Bishop  Asbury, 
"  Itinerant  labours  must  be  hard  if  properly  performed." 

GEORGE  AND  THE  EPISCOPAL  CLERGYMAN. 

In  1*790  Enoch  George  was  travelling  a  circuit  in  North 
Carolina,  which  was  that  year  blessed  with  a  revival  of  religion. 
The  success  of  this  good  work,  which  excited  joy  in  the 
bosoms  of  seraphs — for  there  is  "  joy  in  the  presence  of  the 


146 


THE  HEROES  OF  METHODISM. 


angels  of  God  over  one  sinner  that  repentetli" — excited  3 
difierent  feeling  on  earth,  a  feeling  of  jealousy  and  a  spirit  of 
persecution.  "An  Episcopal  minister  and  some  of  his  offi- 
cials expelled  the  Methodists  from  an  old  church,  at  a  certain 
point  on  the  circuit,  where  the  little  society  was  accustomed 
to  meet  for  worship.  They  came  into  the  altar  armed  with 
heavy  clubs,  and  when  the  service  commenced  they  ordered 
Mr.  George  and  his  congregation  to  depart,  as  they  were  dis- 
senters from  what  they  were  pleased  to  call  the  Church. 
When  it  was  perceived  that  they  were  prepared  for  carnal 
warfare,  Mr.  George  left  the  house,  and  begged  his  brethren 
to  follow  him.  They  therefore  worshipped  in  the  open  air. 
This  persecution  resulted  in  their  favour  ;  for  religion  spread, 
and  the  wicked  clergyman  was  soon  without  a  congrega- 
tion." 

BISHOP  GEORGE  AXD  ABXER  CHASE. 

On  their  way  to  the  conference  held  at  Lundy's  Lane,  Upper 
Canada,  in  1820,  on  this  side  the  line  the  country  was  new 
and  the  roads  very  rough,  and  the  ride  most  uncomfortable. 
The  bishop  frequently  asked  during  the  day,  "  Can  you  con- 
ceive of  a  more  disagTeeable  situation  for  a  man  to  be  in,  who 
has  his  health  and  liberty,  than  to  be  riding  over  a  log  cause- 
way on  wheels  ?" 

"  The  business  of  the  conference,"  says  Mr.  Chase,  "  had 
not  proceeded  far  when  Bishop  George  notified  me  of  his  de- 
sign to  appoint  me  to  the  charge  of  a  district.  With  this 
notice  came  a  time  of  trial  such  as  I  had  never  known  be- 
fore in  relation  to  my  work  as  a  Methodist  preacher.  Up  to 
that  time  I  had  never  asked  a  bishop  or  ])residing  elder  to 
give  me  this  or  save  me  from  that.  We  did  not  in  those 
days,  so  far  as  I  was  acquainted,  go  to  conference  with  arrange- 
ments previously  made,  eitherin  our  own  minds  or  with  preach- 
ers or  people,  as  to  our  field  of  labour.  But  believing  that  by 
submitting  it,  under  God,  to  the  authorities  of  the  Church,  wo 


ENOCH  GEORGE. 


147 


fihoukl  be  more  safe  than  in  choosing  for  ourselves,  we  went 
cheerfully  to  the  fields  assigned  us.  But  now  I  was  brought 
into  a  strait :  for  though  I  had  previously  felt,  in  some  de- 
gree, the  responsibilities  of  a  Christian  minister  and  pastor, 
yet  this  was  little  in  my  estimation  when  compared  with  the 
charge  of  a  district.  I  therefore  remonstrated,  argued,  and 
entreated,  day  after  day,  while  the  conference  was  proceed- 
ing with  its  business.  But  the  bishop  was  inexorable,  and 
on  a  certain  day  he  took  me  far  down  into  a  meadow,  and 
there  assured  me  that  he  should  appoint  me  to  the  Ontario 
district,  unless  I  absolutely  refused  to  go.  He  then,  after 
kneeling  and  praying  for  me,  said  he  would  relate  the  cir- 
cumstance of  the  first  appointment  of  the  Rev.  J.  B.  Finley 
to  the  office  of  presiding  elder.  I  will  relate  it,  because  it 
may  be  useful  to  others.  The  appointment  was  made  by 
Bishop  M'Kendree,  and  the  circumstances,  as  near  as  I  can 
remember,  were  as  follows :  Brother  Finley  had  been  set 
down  in  the  list  of  appointments  as  presiding  elder  of  the 
Ohio  district,  without  his  knowledge  of  the  fact,  and  whe^. 
the  appointments  were  read  out,  brother  Finley  came  to  the 
bishop  much  agitated,  and  in  tears  inquired,  *  Do  you  think, 
sir,  that  I  am  fit  for  a  presiding  elder  V  To  which  the  bishop 
replied, '  We  think  if  you  go  to  your  work,  and  diligently  in- 
quire and  search  to  know,  and  faithfully  perform  what  you 
find  to  be  your  duty,  you  will  become  more  fit  for  the  office.'  " 
Mr.  Chase  yielded,  and  his  labours  and  success  on  the  district 
showed  that  Bishop  George  had  not  misjudged  in  making 
the  appointment. 


BISHOP  GEORGE  AND  HIS  PORTRAIT. 

It  is  to  be  regretted  we  have  no  likeness  of  this  distinguished 
and  holy  man.  The  bishop  could  never  be  induced  to 
sit  for  his  portrait.  He  said  to  a  friend  of  mine,  "  that  he 
would  not  have  his  likeness  sold  for  three  cents  all  round 
the  country  when  he  was  in  his  grave."    Bishop  George, 

7* 


148  THE  HEROES  OF  METHODISM. 

when  speaking  on  this  subject  to  Rev.  A.  Chase,  said 
If  any  painter  ever  gets  my  likeness  to  exhibit,  he  shall 
steal  it,  or  catch  it  flying."  This  is  the  reason  we  have  no 
image  left  of  the  bishop.  His  countenance  is  daguerro- 
typed  upon  the  hearts  of  the  few  that  remain  who  knew, 
and  valued,  and  loved  him.  But  the  last  one  that 
had  a  personal  recollection  of  Bishop  George  will  soon 
pass  away,  and  he  will  live  only  in  the  brief  records  of 
the  Church. 

BISHOPS  GEORGE,  HEDDING,  AND  THE  LAND- 
LORD. 

In  1824  Bishoj^s  George  and  Hedding  were  on  their  way 
to  attend  the  Canada  Conference.  "  They  often,"  says  the 
biographer  of  Bishop  Hedding,  "  found  it  difficult,  in  their 
journey  through  the  new  settlements,  to  procure  food  for 
themselves  and  their  horses ;  and  still  more  difficult  to  ob- 
tain comfortable  lodgings.  One  day  they  had  been  unable 
to  procure  anything  to  eat.  Jaded  and  hungry,  they  at 
length  came  in  sight  of  a  log-cabin,  with  a  tavern-sign 
hanging  out.  Their  courage  revived,  and  they  drove  up  to 
the  door,  and  asked  if  they  could  have  entertainment.  The 
landlord  looked  at  them  quizzically,  as  if  he  would  say, 
'What  Jcind  of  entertainment  do  you  want?'  They  in- 
quired, 'Can  we  have  hay  for  our  horses?'  The  laconic 
reply  was,  'No,  have  none.'  'Oats?'  say  they.  'No, 
have  none.'  '  Pasture  ?'  '  No,  have  none.'  '  Well,  can 
you  furnish  us  with  anything  to  eat?'  'No,'  replied  the 
landlord ;  'have  nothing  to  eat  in  the  house.'  '  What  have 
you,  then  ?'  they  inquired.  '  0,  plenty  of  whisky  !•'  Satis- 
fied with  their  colloquy,  the  hungry  and  weary  travellers 
resumed  their  journey,  and  at  length  found  a  hut  where 
they  could  obtain  food  for  their  horses  and  rest  for  them- 
selves. 


ENOCH  GEORGE. 


149 


BISHOP  GEORGE^S  VISIT  TO  DANBURY,  CONN. 

In  1826  Bishop  George  came  to  Danbury,  Conn.,  and  spent 
a  few  days,  and  preached  in  the  old  house,  that  remained  for 
many  years  unfinished.  The  Rev.  John  Luckey  was  his 
travelling  companion.  It  was  the  first  time  I  had  ever  seen 
a  Methodist  bishop ;  and  the  first  sight  generally  makes  a 
lasting  impression.  I  yet  remember  his  venerable  form,  his 
benignant  countenance,  his  mild  eye,  and  the  tears  that 
rolled  down  his  cheeks.  It  was  on  a  week-day,  in  the  fore- 
noon. I  remember  the  text  and  some  of  the  sermon, 
though  about  thirty  years  have  passed  away  since  it  was  my 
pnvilege  to  hear  this  distinguished  servant  of  God.  The  text 
was  one  I  never  heard  preached  from  before  or  since,  1  Thess. 
V,  14,  15  :  "  Now  we  beseech  you,  brethren,  warn  them  that 
are  unruly,  comfort  the  feeble-minded,  support  the  weak,  be 
patient  toward  all  men.  See  that  none  render  evil  for  evil 
unto  any  man ;  but  ever  follow  that  which  is  good  both 
among  yourselves  and  to  all  men."  A  practical  text,  and 
we  had  a  practical  sermon.  Well  I  remember  how  he  ex- 
QOited  to  warn  the  unruly,  and  with  what  touching  tender- 
fiess  and  melting  pathos  he  dwelt  on  comforting  the  feeble- 
minded; how  they  in  their  feebleness  needed  comfort. 
Then  supporting  the  weak ;  how  the  weak  needed  support, 
and  what  a  claim  they  had  on  our  sympathy.  Then  the 
grace  of  patience — patience  toward  all  men.  Then  the 
caution  not  to  render  evil  for  evil,  under  any  circumstance 
whatever. 

BISHOP  GEORGE  AND  THE  REV.  MOSES  HILL. 

Bishop  George,  while  in  Danbury,  was  entertained  at  the 
house  of  Rora  Starr,  a  local  preacher.  The  state  of  Maine 
at  that  time  was  very  destitute  of  preachers,  and  Bishop 
George  was  trying  to  enlist  volunteers  to  go  there  to  preach 


150 


THE  HEKOES  OF  METHODISM. 


the  Gospel.  Moses  Hill,  a  young  man  of  raiicli  promise,  who 
had  been  employed  in  teaching  school,  but  was  just  engaging 
in  the  work  of  the  ministry,  had  an  interview  with  the  bishop 
at  the  house  of  Mr.  Starr,  and  there  volunteered  to  go  to 
Maine.  A  great  portion  of  the  state  was  then  rough  and 
uncultivated.  Bishop  George  was  so  overjoyed  to  find  Mr. 
Hill  ready  to  go,  that  he  encircled  him  in  his  arms,  and 
then,  in  the  most  feeling  manner,  as  he  laid  his  hand  upon 
his  head,  pronounced  upon  him  the  apostolic  benediction : 
"  The  grace  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  the  love  of  God,  and 
the  communion  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  be  with  you."  That 
benediction  made  a  lifetime  impression  upon  the  mind  of 
Mr.  Hill.  Xearly  thiity  years  after,  with  much  emotion,  as 
the  tear  started  in  his  eye,  he  told  me  of  the  bishop's  bene- 
diction. He  also  told  me  of  his  father's  frown.  His  father 
was  a  Methodist,  and  was  glad  to  have  Closes  become  a  Meth- 
odist preacher,  but  was  unwilling  he  should  go  to  Maine. 
He  himself  had  travelled  in  Maine  a  few  years  before,  and 
fared  hard,  and  had  a  great  prejudice  against  that  state. 
"When  he  heard  that  Moses  had  volunteered  to  go,  he  was 
so  displeased  that  he  disinherited  his  son. 

Young  Hill  left  his  father's  house  and  the  home  of  his  child- 
hood— the  scenes  he  could  not  but  love — with  a  heavy  heart. 
The  parting  scene  was  afi"ecting ;  the  sundering  of  ties,  and 
then  the  going  away  under  his  father's  displeasure.  The 
young  preacher  had  learned  that  he  "  that  loveth  father  or 
mother  more  than  me,  is  not  worthy  of  me ;"  and  the  words  of 
the  Psalmist :  "  When  my  father  and  mother  forsake  me,  then 
the  Lord  will  take  me  up."  Not  "  conferring  with  flesh  and 
blood,"  not  consulting  his  own  ease  or  temporal  interest, 
young  Hill  went  to  Maine,  and  preached,  not  far  from  a 
quarter  of  a  century,  "  the  unsearchable  riches  of  Christ." 
He  filled  important  stations,  and  was  several  times  a  member 
of  the  General  Conference.  Noble  service  he  did  for  God 
and  truth  in  the  state  of  Maine,  when  the  country  was  new. 
His  father  was  reconciled  before  he  died,  and  gave  Moses 


ENOCH  GEORGE. 


151 


Lis  benediction.  The  bisliop  and  the  father  are  now,  no 
doubt,  in  paradise,  while  the  son  yet  Hves,  but  holds  a 
superannuated  relation  to  the  Church — no  doubt  the  effects 
of  his  early  labours — but  he  never  regrets  that  he  was  a 
volunteer  to  go  to  Maine. 

BISHOP  GEORGE  AND  THE  LITTLE  GIRL. 

The  bishop  was  not  one  that  overlooked  little  children. 
He  never  forgot  the  value  of  a  child,  and  the  relation  it 
sustains  to  two  worlds.  He  ever  remembered  who  it  was 
that  took  them  in  his  arms  and  blessed  them,  and  who  said, 
"  Suffer  the  little  children  to  come  unto  me,  and  forbid  them 
not."  He  would  instruct  them,  bless  them ;  let  them  see 
that,  like  his  Master,  he  was  the  children's  friend. 

A  year  or  two  before  his  death.  Bishop  George  was 
in  Philadelphia,  stopping  at  the  house  of  Rev.  Lawrence 
M'Combs.  The  bishop  was  going  to  preach  in  the  evening. 
A  very  little  girl  from  Trenton,  N.  J.,  was  visiting  there, 
and  she  cried  to  go  to  meeting  with  the  rest  of  them.  The 
bishop  seated  her  upon  his  knee,  kissed  her,  gave  her  some 
good  advice,  and  his  blessing,  and  urged  her  to  stay  at 
home  and  learn  some  verses  of  the  hymn,  beginning, 

"Alas,  and  did  my  Saviour  bleed, 
And  did  my  Sov'reign  die  ?  " 

While  he  was  gone  to  meeting,  Rosetta,  a  coloured  woman, 
who  lived  with  Mr.  M'Combs,  taught  the  child  that  hymn ; 
and  when  the  bishop  returned  he  requested  her  to  repeat  what 
she  had  learned,  which  she  did  to  his  great  delight.  He 
said  it  had  always  been  a  favourite  hymn  of  his ;  and 
he  commented  on  the  beautiful  sentiments  it  contained. 
The  little  girl  has^  expanded  into  womanhood :  the  bishop 
years  ago  passed  on  to  the  spirit  world;  but  Bishop 
George,  that  sweet  hymn,  that  evening  at  Mr.  M'Combs', 
all  are  as  fresh  to  her  mind  as  if  they  occurred  yesterday. 
I  had  it  from  her  own  lips  a  few  days  ago. 


152  THE  HEROES  OF  METHODISM. 


BISHOP  GEORGE  PREACHING  THE  PEOPLE  UP  TO  THE 
THIRD  HEAVEN. 

Bishop  George  preached  at  the  session  of  the  Genesee  Con- 
ference, in  1820,  a  sermon  of  great  beauty  and  power.  "  I 
wish,"  says  the  Rev.  Charles  Giles,  "  I  could  give  the  reader 
his  sermon  with  all  its  beauty,  power,  and  eloquence  ;  but  it 
is  beyond  my  reach.  Near  the  close,  as  he  was  bringing  the 
strong  points  in  his  discourse  together,  that  their  united 
strength  might  impress  the  assembly  eflfectually,  he  produced 
a  climax  the  most  sublime  and  thrilling  I  ever  heard.  He 
ascended  from  thought  to  thought  in  his  towering  theme, 
hke  an  eagle  soaring  and  wending  up  the  distant  sky. 

"  I  heard  with  admiration,  and  almost  trembled  to  see  him 
rising  to  such  a  fearful  eminence.  Several  times  I  imagined 
that  he  could  go  no  higher,  but  he  would  suddenly  disap- 
point me.  At  the  very  point  where  expectation  fixed  his  re- 
turn, he  seemed  to  inhale  new  fire,  and  soared  away  on  the 
wing  of  thought  again  ;  then  higher  and  higher  still,  till  it 
seemed  that  his  inspiration  would  become  his  chariot,  and, 
by  the  grasp  he  held  on  the  enchained  assembly,  would  take 
us  all  with  him  to  the  third  heaven. 

"  Some  of  the  hearers  appeared  motionless  as  statues,  ab- 
sorbed in  thought  and  charmed  with  the  grand  scene  before 
them,  while  strong  emotions  were  rolling  in  waves  through 
the  excited  congregation  ;  and  as  the  man  of  God  was  about 
to  descend  from  his  lofty  elevation,  thrilling  shrieks  burst  out 
from  the  awakened  crowd  in  the  galler}".  Immediately  some 
of  the  preachers  who  were  acquainted  there  pressed  through 
the  multitude  to  conduct  these  sighing  penitents  down  to  the 
altar ;  and  soon  they  were  seen  weeping  and  trembling,  and 
urging  their  way  along  to  the  consecrated  spot,  where  a 
prayer-meeting  was  immediately  opened,  and  ardent  suppli- 
cations off"ered  up  to  heaven  in  tbeir  behalf.  The  time  was 
well  improved,  and  it  was  a  season  of  great  power  and  glory. 


ENOCH  GEORGE. 


153 


Some,  I  believe,  found  the  great  salvation  before  the  exercise 
was  closed.  It  is  believed  that  more  than  one  hundred  souls 
were  awakened  during  the  session  of  that  conference." 

BISHOP  GEORGE  AND  HIS  PURSUER. 

For  the  following  characteristic  anecdote  of  Bishop  George 
I  am  indebted  to  the  Rev.  John  Luckey,  who  was  his  travel- 
ling companion.  The  bishop  was  in  constant  fear  of  being 
catechised  by  curious  strangers.  "  On  our  way  to  the  New- 
England  Conference,  some  twenty-five  years  ago,  he  espied  a 
New-England  farmer,  in  appearance,  on  his  horse  along  side 
of  the  road.  The  farmer  was  in  conversation  with  a  neigh- 
bour, and  therefore  did  not  perceive  us  until  our  carriage  was 
nearly  opposite  to  him.  'Stop,'  said  the  bishop  to  me, 
'  stop,  bub,  and  let  me  get  out ;  for  I  perceive  that  old  body 
is  preparing  to  fire  a  platoon  of  questions  at  me,  which  I  can 
never  answer.' 

"  I  of  course  complied  with  his  request,  and  the  bishop 
was  off  at  double  quick  step. 

"  The  farmer  was  off  also,  belabouring  his  old  nag's  side 
with  his  boot-heels  most  unmercifully. 

"  The  bishop,  looking  over  his  shoulder,  perceived  the  in- 
creasing speed  of  his  persecutor.  The  bishop  travelled  still 
faster,  but  all  to  no  purpose ;  his  tormentor  was  close  upon 
his  track ;  there  seemed  to  be  no  way  of  escape ;  he  must  be 
made  prisoner,  for  the  enemy  was  upon  him,  and  about  to 
open  his  battery  and  shoot  his  questions  at  him,  which  he 
feared  more  than  some  men  do  arrows  or  bullets.  Just  as  he 
thought  he  must  surrender,  when  there  appeared  to  be  no 
hope  and  no  alternative,  an  unfenced  thicket  came  in  view. 
Hope  spmng  up  in  the  bishop's  bosom,  and  he  darted  into  the 
thicket  with  the  swiftness  of  a  hunted  hare,  and  was  soon 
where  his  pursuer  could  not  find  him.  While  the  bishop, 
was  rejoicing  that  he  had  thus  fortunately  made  his  escape, 
and  found  a  refuge,  the  farmer  paused,  looked  cheap,  and 


154 


THE  HEROES  OF  METHODISM. 


muttering  his  disappointment  in  monosyllables,  passed  slowly 
up  the  hill. 

"  The  bishop  positively  refused  to  leave  his  asylum,  till  he 
could  be  assured  that  his  disappointed  pursuer  was  fairly 
out  of  sight.  When  he  was  satisfied  of  this,  he  consented 
to  leave  the  thicket,  to  which  he  was  so  deeply  indebted  for 
his  protection. 

"  '  Did  I  not  tell  you,'  said  the  bishop,  '  he  was  preparing 
to  catechise  me  V  The  bishop  added  :  *  It  is  very  annoying 
to  me,  as  I  cannot  answer  their  principal  questions,  which 
generally  are  these :  Mrst,  "  Where  do  you  live  when  you 
are  at  home?"  Now  the  truth  is,  I  cannot  answer  this 
question,  for  I  have  no  home.  The  second  question  is, 
"  How  old  are  you,  if  I  may  be  so  bold  ?"  This  question 
I  cannot  answer,  as  the  family  records  were  destroyed  at  the 
commencement  of  the  Revolutionary  War.  Therefore,  as  I 
cannot  answer  their  principal  questions,  neither  can  I  others, 
and  I  do  not  wish  to  be  perplexed  by  a  constant  catechetical 
course ;  and  I  will  run  at  any  time,  if  I  can  only  avoid  such 
tormentors.' " 

BISHOP  GEORGE  AND  THE  PREACHERS  OF  THE  GEN- 
ESEE CONFERENCE. 

Rev.  Abner  Chase,  in  his  reminiscences,  says :  Bishop  George 
ever  manifested  a  deep  interest  in  the  cause  of  God  in 
general,  but  especially  for  the  Genesee  Conference.  He 
seemed  to  have  a  very  favourable  opinion  of  the  piety,  zeal, 
and  usefulness  of  the  preachers  in  this  section  of  the  Church. 
I  will  relate  an  incident  which  will  confirm  this  statement. 
At  the  General  Conference  of  1820,  which  was  held  in  the 
city  of  Baltimore,  I  was  invited,  with  several  delegates  from 
different  conferences,  to  dine  on  a  given  day  with  a  certain 
gentleman  of  the  city.  When  I  arrived  at  the  place,  James 
Bateman,  of  the  Philadelphia  Conference,  was  relating  what 
he  heard  Bishop  George  say  of  the  preachei's  of  the  Genesee 


ENOCH  GEORGE. 


166 


Conference.  The  bishop  said  that  he  always  knew,  from  his 
first  acquaintance  with  Methodist  preachers,  that  they  would  get 
men  converted  who  xoould  convert ;  but  he  never  knew  until 
he  visited  the  Genesee  Conference,  that  Methodist  preachers 
would  get  men  converted  whether  they  would  or  not :  that 
when  he  came  to  this  conference,  he  found  the  preachers 
laying  siege  to  the  hearts  of  men,  and  to  a  throne  of  grace, 
and  that  they  took  no  denial  from  earth  or  heaven,  but 
struggled  till  they  prevailed  with  both. 

BISHOP  GEORGE  AND  THE  IMPOSTOR. 

The  following  is  from  the  Rev.  Abner  Chase's  "  Recollection 
of  the  Past."  The  Genesee  Conference  for  1820  was 
appointed  to  commence  at  Lundy's  Lane,  Upper  Canada. 
Bishop  George  had,  on  our  return  from  the  General  Confer- 
ence at  Baltimore,  agreed  to  be  at  my  house,  in  Oneida,  on 
a  given  day,  as  he  passed  from  Nantucket,  the  seat  of  the 
New-England  Conference,  and  I  had  agreed  to  carry  him  to 
ours.  We  did  not  in  those  days  travel  by  steam,  as  we  do 
now,  except  on  some  of  the  most  important  waters.  Our 
land  journeys  were  tedious  and  wearisome.  The  bishop  and 
myself  started  from  my  house  in  a  buggy  on  Saturday, 
and  proceeded  to  the  town  of  Madison,  Madison  county, 
where  we  spent  the  Sabbath;  and  the  bishop  gave  us  a 
good  sermon  in  a  private  house,  as  we  had  no  churches 
built  in  that  section  of  the  country  at  that  time.  On  Mon- 
day we  put  up  at  the  house  of  William  Ferguson,  living  be- 
tween Vienna  and  Clifton  Springs,  Ontario  county ;  and  here 
I  witnessed  an  instance  of  what  has  always  been  a  mysteiy 
to  me,  that  is,  that  a  human  being  should  assume  the  garb 
or  profession  of  piety,  under  which  to  serve  the  devil.  There 
was  at  that  time  living  near  to  brother  Ferguson  a  preacher 
who  had  been  an  acquaintance  and  class-mate  of  mine  in  the 
days  of  our  youth.  I  called  on  this  brother  in  the  evening, 
who  stated  that  a  member  of  the  Ohio  Conference  was  stop- 


15G 


THE  HEEOES  OF  METHODISM. 


ping  at  Lis  bouse,  who  had  been  on  a  visit  to  bis  friends  in 
the  east,  and  was  now  returning,  and  was  intending  to  takfe 
our  conference  in  his  way,  and  spend  a  few  days  with  us,  and 
that  bis  name  was  Cornelius  Springer.  I  knew  from  the 
Minutes  that  there  was  a  preacher  of  that  name  in  the  Ohio 
Conference,  but  I  bad  never  seen  him.  On  being  introduced 
to  the  stranger,  and  bearing  some  of  bis  statements  concern- 
ing his  journey,  I  was  immediately  impressed  with  the  idea 
that  he  was  an  impostor,  and  had  imposed  upon  the  family 
who  bad  received  him,  and  with  whom  I  learned  he  bad  been 
staying  for  a  day  or  two  previous  to  our  arrival ;  and  that 
the  family  had  been  furaishing  him  with  some  articles  of 
apparel,  he  having  stated,  as  nearly  as  I  can  recollect,  that 
be  had  lost  bis  horse,  and  bad,  therefore,  been  under  the 
necessity  of  leaving  his  portmanteau,  in  which  was  his 
clothing. 

Believing  that  be  was  an  impostor,  I  went  directly  back 
to  brother  Ferguson's,  and  inquired  of  Bishop  George  if  he 
was  personally  acquainted  with  Cornelius  Springer,  of  the 
Ohio  Conference.  He  answered  that  be  was.  I  then 
requested  him  to  give  me  a  description  of  his  personal 
appearance,  and  told  him  of  the  stranger  to  whom  I  bad 
been  introduced.  The  bishop's  description  in  no  way  cor- 
responded with  the  appearance  of  this  stranger.  The 
bishop  assured  me  at  the  time  that  Cornelius  Springer  was 
a  man  of  property,  and  would  not  be  found  abroad  under 
the  circumstances  in  which  this  person  appeared.  I  took 
some  of  the  brethren  with  me,  and  went  immediately  back, 
and  asked  the  stranger  to  show  me  his  parchment,  or  cer- 
tificate of  ordination ;  but  this  be  said  he  had  left  with  his 
portmanteau.  I  then  told  him  I  doubted  the  truth  of  bis 
statements,  and  believed  him  to  be  an  impostor ;  but  if  he 
was  the  man  be  professed  himself  to  be,  he  could  readily  sat- 
isfy us  of  the  fact  by  going  to  the  bishop's  lodgings.  This 
he  declined  doing ;  but  said,  as  we  had  such  views  of  him,  he 
thought  he  would  stay  no  longer;  arose  and  adjusted  his 


ENOCH  GEORGE. 


apparel,  for  he  was  partly  undressed  for  the  night,  and 
hastily  left  the  house.  I  followed  him,  and  insisted  that  be- 
fore he  left  he  should  confess  the  truth,  and  the  deception 
which  he  had  used.  He,  however,  started  from  me,  and, 
taking  the  road  westward,  ran  with  great  speed.  There 
was  a  young  man  in  the  company  who  was  extremely  light 
on  foot.  I  asked  him  if  he  thought  he  could  overtake  him ; 
if  so,  I  wished  him  to  pursue  him.  The  night  was  diark,  and 
we  could  see  nothing,  but  we  heard  the  race  for  some  distance, 
and  then  the  voice  of  the  young  man,  saying,  "  I  have  got 
him !"  We  went  where  he  was ;  but  not  knowing  what  to 
do  with  him,  as  no  peace  officer  was  near,  we  agreed  to  let 
him  go  if  he  would  confess  he  had  imposed  upon  the  family 
who  had  received  him.  This  he  finally  did,  still  saying  his 
name  was  Cornelius  Springer,  but  not  the  person  whom  he 
had  pretended;  and  so  we  parted  in  the  darkness  of  the 
night,  after  giving  him  such  advice  as  we  thought  suitable. 
The  preacher  who  had  kindly  received  this  unworthy  man, 
had  from  one  to  two  hundred  dollars  of  book  money  in 
his  possession,  which  he  had  that  day  been  arranging  for 
Conference,  and  which  had  been  deposited  in  a  drawer  in  a 
room  where  the  stranger  was  to  lodge,  and  of  which  he  had 
knowledge,  and  with  which  he  would  undoubtedly  have 
been  missing  the  next  morning,  had  he  not  been  detected. 


BISHOP  GEORGE  AKD  THE  PREACHER  WHO  WISHED 
TO  BE  ACCOMMODATED. 

In  May,  182'7,  the  New- York  Conference  was  held  in  Troy. 
Bishop  George  presided,  assisted  by  Bishop  Hedding.  "  At 
this  conference  one  of  the  preachers,  who  was  wanted  for 
Vermont,  came  to  the  bishops  and  desired  to  be  appointed 
elsewhere,  alleging  that  it  would  be  inconvenient  for  his 
family,  and  that  his  wife  was  then  with  her  parents  on  a 
circuit  quite  down  toward  New- York.  He  therefore  asked 
to  be  appointed  near  to  her.    Desiring  as  much  as  possible 


158  THE  HEROES  OF  METHODISM. 


to  accommodate  him,  the  bishops  sent  him  to  a  circuit  in 
that  region.  It  appeared,  subsequently,  that  he  wanted  to 
go  to  the  circuit  where  his  wife  was.  After  the  conference 
had  adjourned,  and  the  bishops  had  retired  to  their  lodgings, 
the  preacher  came  stamping  and  frowning  into  their  room, 
and  said,  'I  thought  you  were  to  give  me  an  appointment 
to  accommodate  me,  near  where  my  wife  is.'  Bishop 
George  replied,  'We  could  not  appoint  you  to  the  circuit 
where  your  wife  is,  but  we  have  appointed  you  as  near  as 
we  could.'  The  preacher  said,  'You  have  not  accom- 
modated me  at  all ;  I  cannot  go  to  the  circuit.'  Bishop 
George  then  said,  'Go  home,  then,  and  take  care  of  your 
wife,  and  stay  with  her.'  The  preacher  replied,  '  And  what 
will  you  do  with  the  circuit  then?'  Bishop  George  an- 
swered, '  Never  mind  the  circuit ;  we  '11  take  care  of  that ; 
you  take  care  of  yourself,  and  go  home  and  take  care  of 
your  wife.'  The  preacher  turned  on  his  heel,  and,  grum- 
bling, went  away.  But,  on  sober  reflection,  he  concluded  to 
go  to  his  circuit,  and  notified  the  bishops  to  that  effect." — 
Life  of  Hedding. 

BISHOP  GEORGE  AND  THE  UNWELCOME  PREACHER. 

In  the  fall  of  1823,  the  Methodists  of  a  certain  town  in  Ken- 
tucky concluded  that  they  were  able,  though  but  twenty- 
two  in  number,  to  support  a  preacher  by  themselves.  Ac- 
cordingly, they  wrote,  to  the  conference,  requesting  the  bishop 
to  make  a  station  of  their  village.  But,  considering  their 
want  of  numerical  and  financial  strength,  it  was  deemed  all- 
important  that  the  minister  sent  them  should  be  a  man 
of  popular  talents  ;  because,  unless  he  could  command  the 
admiration  and  conciliate  the  favour  of  the  people,  there  was 
danger  of  failing  to  support  him. 

They  therefore  asked  for  a  brother  Johnson — at  that  time 
one  of  the  most  popular  and  efl"ective  ministers  in  the  state 
— and  made  the  getting  of  that  particular  man  the  condition 


ENOCH  GEORGE. 


159 


upon  which  they  wished  to  become  a  station.  To  them  it 
was  clear  that  the  destinies  of  Methodism,  if  not  of  Christian- 
ity itself,  in  that  particular  region,  depended  upon  their  hav- 
ing the  man  they  wanted  that  very  year.  It  was  thought 
advisable,  however,  to  station  brother  Johnson  elsewhere. 

There  was  in  the  conference  at  the  time,  a  young  man 
who  had  just  been  received  into  full  connexion,  without  ex- 
perience or  reputation  as  a  preacher,  and  by  nature  singularly 
unqualified  for  any  position  where  his  sensibilities  were  likely 
to  be  tried.  Tender-hearted  and  addicted  to  gloom,  ex- 
posure to  rude  treatment,  or,  what  would  be  worse,  a  cold 
reception  from  those  to  whom  he  might  be  sent,  would 
dishearten  him  at  once.  Some  such  treatment  most  proba- 
bly awaited  any  man  save  brother  Johnson,  who  might  be 
sent  to  the  town  of  which  we  speak ;  yet  this  young  man 
was  selected  to  go.  Fortunately,  however,  the  bishop  was 
to  accompany  him. 

It  is  known  to  as  many  as  were  acquainted  with  Bishop 
George,  that  his  most  noticeable  characteristic  was  'prayer- 
fulness.  The  frequency,  fervour,  and  singular  power  with 
which  he  addressed  the  throne  of  grace,  are  mentioned  as  oft- 
en as  a  reminiscence  of  him  is  made.  During  their  journey 
of  some  two  hundred  miles,  on  horseback,  the  young  preacher 
had  abundant  opportunity  to  observe  and  imbibe  the  spirit 
of  this  excellent  man.  Whenever  they  stopped  for  meals, 
rest,  lodging,  or  to  see  and  encourage  some  pious  family, 
whose  residence  by  the  way  was  known  to  them,  they  had  a 
season  of  prayer. 

When  about  twelve  miles  from  the  place  of  the  young 
man's  destination,  at  the  house  of  a  brother  S.,  the  bishop 
was  attacked  with  asthma,  a  disease  to  which  he  was  very 
liable.  The  remedies  which  usually  relieved  him  were  tried 
without  effect ;  the  man  of  God  got  no  better.  At  length 
he  sent  for  the  young  preacher,  and  directing  his  attention 
to  the  sublime  description  of  the  new  Jerusalem,  contained 
in  the  book  of  Revelation,  desired  him  to  take  his  Bible 


160 


THE  HEROES  OF  METHODISM. 


into  the  grove,  meditate  upon  that  passage  for  a  season,  and 
then  come  in  and  preach  to  him  about  it. 

"  For,"  said  he,  "  I  want  to  get  happy.  If  my  soul  were 
powerfully  blessed,  I  think  it  would  cure  my  body." 

The  young  man,  ever  distrustful  of  his  own  powers,  was 
alarmed  at  the  idea.  He  begged  to  be  excused ;  and, 
prompted  as  much,  perhaps,  by  fear  as  by  faith,  recommended 
to  the  bishop  his  never-failing  expedient  for  "  getting  happy  " 
—prayer. 

"  Well,"  said  the  sick  man,  "  go  out,  my  son,  and  shut  the 
door ;  let  me  be  left  alone." 

His  wish  was  complied  with.  In  another  moment  he 
was  composing  his  mind  to  his  favourite  employment: 
Elijah,  wrapped  in  the  mantle  of  prayer,  was  alone  with 
God. 

For  a  moment  all  was  silent ;  but  at  length  loud  and 
repeated  praises  issued  from  the  sick  room.  The  family 
gathered  round  to  rejoice  with  the  man  of  prayer ;  and  the 
immediate  effect  of  the  excitement  was  a  cure  of  the  malady 
so  effectual  that  the  travellers  proceeded  on  their  journey 
in  the  morning. 

But,  before  they  started,  the  good  brother  with  whom  they 
were  sojourning,  broke  to  the  unsuspecting  young  preacher  the 
shocking  intelligence,  already  in  the  reader's  possession,  that 
he  would  be  an  unwelcome  arrival  at  the  place  of  his 
appointment.  Of  course  he  was  sunk  at  once  in  the  deep- 
est dejection.  Possessed  of  keen  perceptions  of  the  painful, 
nervously  sensitive  to  any  unkindness,  he  was  the  very  man 
to  be  overwhelmed  in  such  a  situation.  Personal  danger, 
trial,  toil,  would  not  have  daunted  him ;  but  to  be  coldly 
pushed  off  as  not  welcome,  to  feel  that  he  was  imposed  upon 
a  people  who  did  not  want  him,  was  what  he  could  not 
bear.  Instantly  resolving,  therefore,  not  to  submit  to  such 
a  mortification,  he  hastened  to  communicate  his  discovery 
and  his  purpose  to  the  superintendent.  The  bishop,  aware 
of  the  feeling  of  revolt  with  which  his  protege  was  liable  to 


ENOCH  GEORGE. 


161 


be  met,  exlioi-ted  him,  nevertheless,  to  determine  upon  noth- 
ing rashly ;  to  wait  until  he  saw  the  place  and  the  people, 
and,  in  the  meanwhile,  to  give  himself  to  prayer;  adding, 
that  he  had  felt  persuaded  all  the  while  that  the  appoint- 
ment was  "n^A^,"  and  in  the  end  would  prove  providential. 
This  advice  was  reluctantly  taken. 

Arrived  at  the  new  station,  they  were  guests  of  a  promi- 
nent member  of  the  Church,  known  for  many  years  after- 
ward as  the  usual  host  and  fast  friend  of  the  preachers. 
The  next  morning,  as  the  bishop  was  preparing  to  pursue 
his  journey,  he  and  the  good  brother  of  the  house  were  con- 
versing together  in  the  parlour,  while,  unknown  to  them  and 
without  design,  the  young  preacher  was  sitting  on  the  porch 
near  the  window,  with  nothing  but  a  thin  curtain  between 
them,  so  that  what  passed  within  was  distinctly  audible  to 
bim. 

"Well,  brother,"  said  the  bishop,  "how  will  the  young 
man  do  ?" 

"  Not  at  all ;  he  will  not  do  at  all,  sir ;  we  might  as  well 
be  left  without  a  preacher  altogether,"  was  the  emphatic 
reply. 

"O,  I  hope  you  will  like  him  better  after  a  while," 
rejoined  the  old  man.  "Treat  him  kindly,  and  I  am  per- 
suaded he  will  do  you  good." 

"  I  have  no  objection,"  returned  the  host,  "  to  his  staying 
at  my  house  a  few  weeks,  if  you  desire  it ;  but  it  will  be 
useless ;  he  is  not  the  one  we  wanted." 

The  poor  young  man  could  bear  no  more ;  he  crept  from 
the  porch  almost  blind  with  mortification.  The  thought 
that  he  was  to  remain  with  a  people  who  considered  him  a 
tolerated  burden — that  every  mouthful  he  ate  was  to  be  a 
charity — that  he  was  to  be  a  young  and  healthy  mendi- 
cant— sickened  him ! 

He  was  lying  in  wait  as  the  bishop  sallied  forth,  and, 
drawing  him  to  a  spot  where  they  were  sheltered  from  ob- 
servation, he  burst  into  tears,  exclaiming,  "  0,  bishop,  I  can- 


162 


THE  HEROES  OF  METHODISM. 


not  stay !  I  heard  what  passed  in  the  room,  and,  indeed, 
you  must  release  me." 

"  Can  you  get  your  horse  and  ride  a  httle  way  with 
me?" 

This  he  did  with  alacrity,  glad  of  even  an  hour's  respite 
from  his  painful  position. 

After  riding  a  few  miles  they  turned  off  into  the  woodsp 
and,  dismounting  by  a  fallen  tree,  engaged  in  solemn  and 
importunate  prayer — prayer  for  light  and  help  in  that  dark 
and  trying  hour;  then,  taking  the  hand  of  his  companion, 
turned  upon  him  a  look  of  love,  which  none  but  a  strong, 
stern  heart  can  feel,  so  deep  and  genuine  was  it,  so  full  of 
serious  concern  and  earnest  sympathy. 

There  is  a  smile  too  bright  to  be  deep ;  it  is  born  and 
dies  on  the  surface.  Not  such  was  the  expression  of  this 
good  man's  face;  it  shone  clear  up  from  a  heart  con- 
strained by  the  love  of  Christ.  It  did  not  glitter,  but  its 
glow  seemed  to  pervade  and  warm  its  object.  A  truly 
pious  man  is  always  gentle;  and  he  only  can  impart  that 
look  which,  like  the  remembered  smile  of  a  mother,  will 
sometimes  soothe  us  into  delicious  tears  twenty  years  after 
the  face  that  wore  it  has  perished. 

He  concluded  an  address  fraught  with  parental  feeling 
and  sound  wisdom,  with,  "  Now,  my  son,  I  will  make  you  a 
proposition ;  see  if  you  can  fulfil  the  conditions  of  it : 

"Go  back  to  town;  if  you  find  a  cross  there,  bear  it; 
diligently  and  lovingly  perform  every  part  of  your  duty; 
'  do  the  work  of  an  evangelist ;'  fast  once  a  week,  and  spend 
one  hour  of  each  day  in  special  prayer,  that  God  may  open 
your  way  in  that  community :  do  this  for  one  month,  and 
if,  at  the  end  of  that  term,  you  do  not  feel  willing  to  stay, 
consider  yourself  released  from  the  appointment.  Can  you 
do  this?" 

He  thought  he  could ;  upon  which  they  took  an  affection- 
ate leave  of  each  other,  and  Enoch  George — what  signifies  a 
title  to  such  a  man? — turned  toward  the  southwest,  and 


ENOCH  GEORGE. 


163 


resumed  his  pilgrimage  of  hardships.  The  young  man  sat 
upon  his  horse  watching  the  receding  forn^  till  it  sank  out 
of  sight  below  the  horizon.  Not  until  that  moment  had  he 
fairly  tasted  the  exquisite  bitterness  of  his  cup.  The  "  man- 
angel,"  upon  whom  he  had  leaned,  was  gone,  and  he  was 
left  to  grapple  with  his  trial  alone.  He  could  have  sobbed 
like  a  boy. 

Faithfully  did  he  comply  with  the  conditions  of  his  prom- 
ise, through  all  the  tedious  month,  without  discerning  any 
material  change  in  his  own  feelings  or  in  the  bearing  of  the 
people  toward  him ;  albeit  one  wicked  man  and  his  wife  had 
from  the  beginning  endeavoured  to  encourage  him. 

Finally  the  last  Sabbath  arrived  of  the  month  during 
which  he  promised  to  stay.  The  glad  village  bells  were 
pealing  their  summons  to  the  house  of  God  as  our  hero — 
was  he  not  a  hero? — arose  from  the  struggle  of  the  last 
covenanted  hour  of  prayer.  He  walked  toward  the  little 
attic  window,  which  commanded  a  view  of  most  of  the 
streets,  wiping  his  eyes  and  thinking  of  the  few  reluctant 
hearers  who  awaited  him,  when,  lo !  what  a  sight  met  his 
gaze !  Group  after  group  of  citizens  were  flocking  toward 
the  Methodist  Church !  At  first  a  sense  of  awe  came  over 
him,  and  then  a  class  of  mingled  feelings,  as  if  confidence, 
and  strength,  and  joy  were  storming  the  heart,  while  fear, 
and  weakness,  and  mortification  still  disputed  the  right  of 
possession. 

He  hastened  to  his  pulpit,  and  as  he  arose  from  the  first 
silent  prayer  the  thought  of  victory  thrilled  through  him  like 
the  voice  of  a  clarion.  His  text  was  Isa.  vi,  4:  "And  the 
posts  of  the  door  moved  at  the  voice  of  him  that  cried."  The 
attention  of  the  audience  was  arrested  by  the  announcement, 
for  the  voice  that  had  been  wont  to  tremble  with  embarrass- 
ment now  rang  ckar  with  a  tone  of  authority;  his  eye, 
hitherto  confused  and  unsteady,  now  kindled  with  "  a  light 
that  never  shined  on  sea  or  shore."  Fresh  from  the  chamber 
where  he  had  just  accomplished  his  thirtieth  hour  of  special 

8 


164 


THE  HEROES  OF  METHODISM. 


prayer,  the  live  coal  had  touched  his  lips ;  he  was  with  a  wit- 
ness, "  a  man  sent  from  God,"  and  gloriously  baptized  with 
the  Holy  Ghost. 

He  referred  his  text  back  to  the  point  at  which  Christ  first 
interposed  for  man's  salvation — the  voice  that  cried,  "  Lo  I  I 
come  to  do  thy  will ;"  he  applied  it  to  the  sacrificial  off*ering 
of  Jesus — the  voice  that  cried,  "  It  is  finished ;"  he  carried 
forward  the  application  to  "  the  right  hand  of  the  Majesty 
on  high,"  where  the  Intercessor  makes  his  dying  words  im- 
mortal, crying  with  infinite  iteration,  "  Father,  forgive  them 
to  the  day  when  sound  shall  make  its  next  impression  upon 
"  the  dull  cold  ear  of  death,"  when  at  the  "  voice  of  the  Son 
of  God,  the  dead,  small  and  great,  shall  rise." 

The  power  of  the  Highest  was  manifestly  upon  the 
audience,  and  the  presence  of  an  ambassador  of  Christ  was 
attested  by  sobs  and  groans  from  every  part  of  the  house. 
The  preacher  descended  from  the  pulpit  without  pausing  in 
his  discourse,  and  invited  to  the  place  of  prayer  those  who 
desired  to  flee  from  the  wrath  to  come.  With  loud  cries  for 
mercy,  sinners  came  streaming  down  the  aisle ;  and  before 
the  congregation  was  dismissed  seven  souls  professed  to  find 
peace  in  believing. 

When  the  meeting  broke  up,  the  pastor  hastened  back  to 
his  closet.  Many  a  time  had  he  entered  it  disheartened  and 
sad,  never  before  in  triumph.  He  thought  of  good  Bishop  ^ 
George,  and  his  steady  persuasion  that  the  appointment  was 
"  right ;"  of  the  fastings  and  prayers — all  the  way  down  to 
the  last  hour's  experience — and  his  faith  in  God  and  in  the 
efiicacy  of  prayer,  then  and  there  settled  down  into  a  sub- 
stance upon  which  time  has  made  no  impression.  Thirty- 
one  years  of  toil  and  change  have  passed  over  him  since  that 
sweet  Sabbath ;  the  vicissitudes  of  an  itinerant's  life  have 
led  him,  through  heat  and  cold,  by  night  and  day,  from 
one  end  of  Kentucky  to  the  other,  till 

"  He  is  known  to  every  star, 
And  every  wind  that  blows." 


ENOCH  GEORGE. 


169 


Forms  then  unknown,  afterward  became  dear  as  life,  and  then 
perished  from  his  sight;  "sickness  and  sorrow,  pain  and 
death,"  have  left  their  scars  upon  his  form  and  heart,  but  noth- 
ing has  ever  shaken  his  confidence  in  the  God  that  answers 
prayer.  The  memory  of  that  bright  morning  is  as  fresh  be- 
neath his  gray  hairs  as  it  was  beneath  his  locks  of  jet.  Like 
trampled  chamomile,  the  virtues  of  his  spirit  took  deeper 
root  from  being  bruised,  and  shed  a  perfume  that  has  sweet- 
ened life's  atpaosphere  ever  since. 

For  four  weeks  very  little  else  was  attended  to  but  the 
revival.  Stores  and  shops  were  closed  during  the  hours  of 
worship,  which  occurred  twice,  and  often  three  times  a  day. 
At  one  of  the  meetings,  held  in  a  private  house,  (where  the 
venerable  John  Littlejohn  was  present,)  a  call  was  made  for 
those  who  wished  to  join  the  Church,  and  one  hundred  and 
eleven  persons  presented  themselves  for  admission ! 

Thus  the  permanent  establishment  of  Methodism  in 
Russellville,  Kentucky,  was  eftected,  under  God,  through 
the  instrumentality  of  the  unwelcome  preacher. 

It  will  doubtless  add  to  the  interest  of  the  foregoing  nar- 
rative for  the  reader  to  know,  that  the  subject  of  it  is  now 
the  worthy  Book  Agent  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church, 
South,  Rev.  E.  Stevenson,  D.  D. — From  the  Southern 
Ladies^  Companion. 

BISHOP  GEORGE  AT  THE  MAINE  CONFERENCE. 

The  Rev.  William  C.  Larrabee  gives  us  the  following  "  pen 
portrait"  of  Bishop  George :  "  I  saw  him  once,  and  once  only. 
It  was  at  the  session  of  the  Maine  Conference,  at  Gardiner, 
in  1825.  I  was  deeply  impressed  with  the  striking  ap- 
pearance of  the  venerable  bishop ;  he  was  then  approach- 
ing sixty  years  of  age.  He  was  of  manly  form,  large,  but 
well-proportioned  in  figure,  strong  and  energetic  in  his  ap- 
pearance. His  features  indicated  independence,  resolution, 
firmness,  and  activity ;  yet  was  his  countenance  often  lighted 


166 


THE  HEROES  OF  METHODISM. 


up  by  a  smile  of  benignant  emotion.  His  hair,  tinged  with 
the  frosts  of  half  a  century,  hung  at  will  in  graceful  locks 
about  his  temples  and  his  neck.  He  was  sitting  at  ease, 
regardless  of  a  studied  dignity,  and  conducting  the  business  of 
the  conference  with  such  despatch  and  off-hand  style,  regard- 
less of  what  some  call  dignity,  that  it  greatly  amused  and 
interested  me.  It  suited  my  notions  of  Methodistic  sim- 
plicity. But  when  the  hour  of  service  came,  and  he  stood  up 
in  all  his  manly  proportions,  before  an  audience  collected 
from  all  the  villages  along  the  Kennebec,  and  from  far  into 
the  interior,  and  with  his  clear  and  pleasant  voice,  in  his 
earnest,  solemn,  and  pathetic  manner,  began  to  utter 

'  Thoughts  that  breathe  and  words  that  biirn/ 

my  heart  and  eyes  gave  way.  I  wept,  whether  for  joy  or 
sadness  I  could  not  telt;  I  wept,  and  could  not  help  it.  I 
had,  however,  no  reason  to  try  to  help  it,  for,  on  looking  over 
the  congregation,  I  perceived  all  others  as  much  affected  as 
myself,  and  even  more  so;  for  many  of  the  people  were 
laughing,  crying,  and  shouting  at  one  and  the  same  time. 
There  was  in  this  discourse  no  attempt  at  logic,  none  at  or- 
atory, none  at  greatness,  none  at  mere  effect.  It  was  a  plain, 
vigorous,  simple  exhibition  of  Gospel  truth,  in  a  manner 
pointed,  earnest,  and  original,  and  in  a  style  of  whose  chaste 
and  natural  beauty  it  may  be  said,  as  of  the  beauty  of  woman, 

•When  unadorned  adorn'd  the  most.'" 


REV.  ROBERT  WILLIAMS. 


THE  REV.  ROBERT  WILLIAMS. 


Robert  Williams  was  a  local  preacher  in  England,  and 
came  to  this  country  in  1769.  The  circumstances  of  bis  emi- 
gration are  so  peculiar  that  they  deserve  a  permanent  record. 
He  had  received  a  permit  from  Mr.  Wesley  to  preach  in 
America,  under  the  direction  of  the  regular  missionaries. 
Mr.  Williams  had  not  the  means  to  pay  his  passage,  but 
Providence  strangely  opened  his  way. 

Mr.  Williams  had  a  conversation  with  his  friend,  Mr.  Ash- 
ton,  in  Ireland,  in  reference  to  emigrating  to  America.  Mr. 
Ashton  contemplated  a  removal  from  the  Old  to  the  New 
World;  and  Mr.  Williams  promised  to  accompany  him 
if  he  designed  to  spend  his  days  in  America.  Some  time 
afterward,  he  learned  that  Mr.  Ashton  had  embarked  for 
America ;  and,  according  to  promise,  Mr.  Williams  hurried 
down  to  the  town  near  to  which  the  ship  lay,  sold  his 
horse  to  pay  his  debts, — and  taking  his  saddle-bags  on  his 
arm,  set  oflf  to  the  ship,  with  a  loaf  of  bread  and  a  bottle  of 
milk,  and  no  money  to  pay  his  passage.  For  that,  however, 
he  trusted  to  his  friend,  Mr.  Ashton,  and  his  confidence  was 
not  misplaced.  This  Mr.  Ashton  settled  in  a  place  which 
was  called  "  Ashgrove,"  in  honour  of  him.  The  place  is 
famous  in  the  early  history  of  Methodism.  A  Methodist 
society  was  early  formed  here,  of  which  Mr.  Ashton  was  the 
first  member  and  the  principal  pillar.  The  Church  edifice 
was  erected  in  1788.  It  was  the  first  Methodist  house  of 
worship  erected  north  of  the  county  of  Dutchess.  The 
New- York  Conference  held  its  session,  in  1803,  in  Ashgrove. 
Mr.  Ashton  showed  his  love  for  Methodist  ministers  by  pro- 


IVO  THE  HEROES  OF  METHODISM. 

\'iding  a  "  prophet's  room"  in  his  house,  where  the  weary 
itinerant  always  found  a  welcome,  and  by  leaving  a  legacy 
of  three  acres  of  ground  on  which  to  build  a  parsonage; 
also  a  cow  for  the  use  of  the  preacher,  that  they  never 
should  want  milk ;  and  an  annuity  to  the  end  of  time  of  ten 
dollars,  to  the  oldest  unmarried  preacher  of  the  New-York 
Conference.  The  name  of  Mr.  Asliton — the  friend  of  Robert 
Williams,  the  friend  of  Methodism,  the  friend  of  Methodist 
ministers,  when  friends  were  "few  and  far  between" — de- 
serves to  be  held  in  grateful  remembrance.  To  him  we  are 
indebted  for  bi-inging  Robert  Williams  to  this  country,  and 
for  the  glorious  results  which  followed  his  labours  here. 

Mr.  Williams  came  to  New-York  in  October,  1769,  and 
preached  in  the  Methodist  chapel  on  Golden  Hill.  He 
preached  some  time  in  New- York,  and  then  visited  Mr.  Pil- 
moor  in  Philadelphia,  who,  after  examining  him,  granted  him 
a  general  license  to  preach.  He  then  visited  Rev.  Robert 
Strawbridge,  in  Maryland,  and  with  him,  and  the  Rev.  John 
King,  recently  arrived  from  London,  "  began  a  good  work 
in  Baltimore  county,  and  other  parts  of  the  state."  In  iVVl 
Mr.  Williams  made  a  successful  missionary  tour  upon  the 
eastern  shore  of  Maryland.  In  111 2  he  made  his  first 
visit  to  Virginia.  Mr.  Williams  had  the  distinguished 
honour  of  introducing  Methodism  into  the  "  Old  Dominion." 
He  was  the  pioneer,  the  apostle  of  Methodism,  in  that 
state. 

After  preaching  in  various  places  he  was  received  into 
the  travelling  connexion,  at  the  first  conference  ever  held  in 
x'Vmerica,  in  Philadelphia,  June,  1773,  and  appointed  to  Vir- 
ginia.   In  1774  he  was  married,  and  ceased  to  travel. 

There  is  something  peculiar  about  the  Jirst  in  any  series. 
Mr.  Williams  was  not  only  the  first  pioneer  of  Methodism  in 
Virginia,  but  he  was  the  first  preacher  that  published  a 
religious  book  in  America ;  the  first  to  employ  the  press  in 
advancing  the  great  interests  of  the  Redeemer's  kingdom  in 
connexion  with  the  faithful  ministry  of  the  word.  Before 


ROBEJlT  WILLIAMS. 


the  fira4  conference  he  had  reprinted  many  of  Mr.  Wesley's 
books,  and  had  them  spread  through  the  country,  to  the 
great  advantage  of  religion.  Wesley's  Sermons  did  much 
good.  At  the  conference  in  Philadelphia,  June,  1*7  73,  the 
following  rule  was  adopted  : 

"  None  of  the  preachers  in  America  are  to  reprint  any  of 
Mr.  Wesley's  books  without  his- authority,  (when  it  can  be 
gotten,)  and  the  consent  of  their  brethren."  It  was  also 
decided  that  "Robert  Williams  shall  be  allowed  to  sell  the 
books  he  has  already  printed,  but  to  print  no  more,  unless 
under  the  above  restrictions."  His  republishing  them  shows 
the  spirit  of  enterprise  he  possessed,  as  well  as  his  large  plans 
for  doing  good.  The  reason  he  was  interdicted  was,  that 
the  profits  might  go  to  the  denomination,  for  the  spread  of 
"  Scriptural  hoHness  over  the  land,"  and  for  the  support  of 
the  aged  and  worn-out  preachers,  as  well  as  the  widows  and 
orphans  of  such  as  have  died  in  the  work. 

He  was  not  only  the  first  publisher  of  books,  but  the  first 
Methodist  minister  in  America  that  left  a  state  of  single 
blessedness  for  matrimonial  bliss.  He  was  also  the  first 
itinerant  preacher  that  located.  The  name  of  Robert 
Williams  heads  the  long  catalogue  of  names  which  answers 
to  the  question.  Who  have  located  ?  He  was  also  the  first 
Methodist  minister  that  found  a  grave  in  this  country,  the 
first  Methodist  preacher  that  went  from  America  to  Paradise 
— the  first  that  angels  escorted  from  this  new  world  to  the 

Land  of  pure  delight, 
Where  saints  immortal  reign." 

Mr.  Williams,  after  his  location,  resided  in  Virginia,  on 
the  public  road  between  Norfolk  and  Suffolk.  His  house 
was  a  regular  preaching  place,  and  he  always  gave  his 
brethren  a  cordial  welcome,  and  there  they  felt  at  home. 
He  did  not  live  long  to  enjoy  his  pleasant,  quiet  home. 
Death  entered  there  the  26th  of  September,  17'75,  and 
claimed  Robert  Williams  as  one  of  his  trophies. 


172 


THE  HEROES  OF  METHODISM. 


Mr.  Asbury  preached  his  funeral  sermon,  and  gives  this 
testimony  concerning  him,  that  he  "  has  been  a  very  useful 
man,  and  the  Lord  gave  him  many  seals  to  his  ministry. 
Perhaps  no  man  in  America  has  been  an  instrument  of 
awakening  so  many  souls  as  God  has  awakened  by  him." 
Splendid  eulogy!  wonderful  testimony!  Jesse  Lee  bears 
the  same  honourable  testimony.  He  says,  "Although  he  is 
dead,  he  yet  speaketh  to  many  of  his  spiritual  children, 
while  they  remember  his  faithful  preaching  and  his  holy 
walk:' 

No  monument  or  tombstone  marks  the  place  where  his 
dust  is  sleeping;  but  he  should  have  a  monument  deep 
in  the  hearts  of  American  Methodists;  and  though  he  has 
no  epitaph  over  him,  his  name  and  record  are  on  high ; 
it  is  engraven  on  the  pillar  of  immortality ! 


ROBERT  WILLIAMS  AND  THE  REV.  MR.  JARRETT. 

Mr.  Jarrett  was  an  Episcopal  clergyman  in  Virginia,  who 
was  very  friendly  to  the  early  Methodist  ministers.  In 
1773  Mr.  Williams  spent  one  week  in  the  family  of  Mr. 
Jarrett,  and  preached  several  times  in  his  parish.  Mr. 
Jarrett  speaks  of  Mr.  Williams  "  as  a  plain,  simple-hearted, 
pious  man ;"  and  adds,  "  this  was  his  general  character."  He 
gives  the  following  testimony  to  Mr.  Williams's  preaching: 
"  I  liked  his  preaching,  in  the  main,  very  well,  and  especially 
the  animated  and  affectionate  manner  in  which  his  dis- 
courses were  delivered."  He  says,  "  I  felt  much  attachment 
to  Mr.  Williams." 


ROBERT  WILLIAMS. 


MR.  WILLIAMS  AND  THE  PEOPLE  IN  NORFOLK. 

Great  excitement  was  caused  by  his  preaching  in  1*7  7  2  in 
Norfolk.  There  was  an  earnestness  in  his  manner  and  a 
pointedness  in  his  matter  that  made  his  sermons  very 
impressive. 

We  have  the  following  account  of  his  first  visit  to 
Norfolk:  "Without  any  previous  notice  being  given,  he 
went  to  the  court-house,  and  standing  on  the  steps  of  the 
door,  he  began  to  sing ;  the  people  collected  together ;  after 
prayer  he  took  his  text,  and  preached  to  a  considerable  num- 
ber of  hearers,  who  were  very  disorderly,  as  they  thought 
the  preacher  a  madman ;  and  while  he  was  preaching  the 
people  were  laughing,  talking,  and  walking  about  in  all 
directions.  The  general  conclusion  was,  that  they  never 
heard  such  a  man  before ;  for,  said  they,  *  Sometimes  he 
would  preach,  then  he  would  pray,  then  he  would  swear, 
and  at  times  he  would  cry.' 

"  The  people  were  so  little  used  to  hearing  a  preacher  say 
hell  or  devil  in  preaching,  that  they  thought  he  was  swear- 
ing when  he  told  them  about  going  to  hell,  or  dying 
in  their  sins.  As  he  was  believed  to  be  a  madman,  none  of 
them  invited  him  to  their  houses.  However,  he  preached  at 
the"  same  place  the  next  day,  when  they  found  out  he  was 
not  insane,  and  they  were  glad  to  get  him  to  their  houses. 
This  may  be  considered  as  the  beginning  of  Methodism  in 
Virginia;  and  it  was  not  long  before  a  Methodist  society 
was  formed  in  the  town  of  Norfolk."* 


WILLIAMS  AND  THE  LEE  FAMILY. 

He  formed  the  first  regular  circuit  in  Virginia,  and  planted 
the  tree  of  Methodism  there  which  has  yielded  such  abun- 
•» "  History  of  the  Methodists,"  p.  41. 


174  THE  HEROES  OF  METHODISM. 

dant  fruit.  He  was  the  spiritual  father  of  Jesse  Lee.  Mr. 
Lee's  parents  opened  their  doors  for  Mr.  Wilhams  to  preach. 
They  were  converted ;  two  of  their  sons  became  Methodist 
ministers,  and  their  other  children  shared  largely  in  the 
rich  blessings  of  the  Gospel,  which  he  preached  with  such 
flaming  zeal,  holy  ardour,  and  great  success. 


REV.  RICHARD  BOARDMM. 


THE  REV.  RICHARD  BOARDMAN. 


Mr.  Boardman  was  one  of  the  early  heroes  of  Methodism, 
known  and  beloved  both  in  Europe  and  America.  The 
work  in  this  country  had  been  supplied  by  local  preachers ; 
but  in  1769,  at  a  conference  held  in  Leeds,  Richard 
Boardman  and  Joseph  Pilmoor  volunteered  to  come  to  this 
then  new  world.  During  Mr.  Boardman's  stay  here  his 
ministry  was  blessed  to  hundreds ;  but  the  Revolutionary 
War  breaking  out,  circumstances  made  it  necessary  for  him 
to  sail  for  England,  and  he  never  returned.  In  both  hemi- 
spheres he  was  useful,  and  left  behind  him  the  fragrance  of 
a  good  name. 

Mr.  Boardman  died  suddenly  at  Cork.  The  Sabbath 
before  his  death  he  preached  from,  "Though  he  slay  me, 
yet  will  I  trust  in  him."  He  was  buried  at  Cork.  There  is 
a  plain  tombstone  over  his  dust  with  the  following  inscrip- 
tion : 

RICHARD  BOARDMAN. 

DEPAETED  THIS  LIFE  OCTOBER  4th,  1T82, 
^TATIS  44. 

Beneath  this  stone  the  dust  of  Boardman  lies, 
His  precious  soul  has  soar'd  above  the  skies ; 
With  eloquence  divine  he  preachM  the  word 
To  multitjides,  and  turn'd  them  to  the  Lord. 
His  bright  examples  strengthen'd  what  he  taught, 
And  devils  trembled  when  for  Christ  he  fought ; 
With  truly  Christian  zeal  he  nations  fired, 
And  all  who  knew  him  mourned  when  he  expired." 


178 


THE  HEROES  OF  METHODISM. 


BOARDMAN'S  REMARKABLE  DELIVERANCE. 

The  Rev.  Richard  Boardman  related,  a  short  time  before  his 
death,  the  following  remarkable  interposition  of  Divine 
Providence  in  his  behalf :  "  I  preached  one  evening  at 
Mould,  in  Flintshire,  and  next  morning  set  out  for  Park- 
gate.  After  riding  some  miles,  I  asked  a  man  if  I  was  on 
the  road  to  that  place.  He  answered,  '  Yes ;  but  you  will 
have  some  sands  to  go  over,  and  unless  you  ride  fast  you 
will  be  in  danger  of  being  enclosed  by  the  tide.'  It  then 
began  to  snow  to  such  a  degree  that  I  could  scarcely  see  a 
step  of  my  way.  I  got  to  the  sands,  and  pursued  my  jour- 
ney over  them  for  some  time  as  rapidly  as  I  could ;  but  the 
tide  then  came  in,  and  surrounded  me  on  every  side,  so  that 
I  could  neither  proceed  nor  turn  back,  and  to  ascend  the 
perpendicular  rocks  was  impossible.  In  this  situation  I 
commended  my  soul  to  God,  not  having  the  least  expecta- 
tion of  escaping  death.  In  a  little  time  I  perceived  two 
men  running  down  a  hill  on  the  other  side  of  the  water,  and 
by  some  means  they  got  a  boat,  and  came  to  my  relief,  just 
as  the  sea  had  reached  my  knees,  as  I  sat  on  my  saddle. 
They  took  me  into  the  boat,  the  mare  swimming  by  our 
side  till  we  reached  the  land.  While  we  were  in  the  boat, 
one  of  the  men  said,  '  Surely,  sir,  God  is  with  you.'  I  an- 
swered, '  I  trust  he  is.'  The  man  replied,  '  I  know  he  is,' 
and  then  related  the  following  circumstance :  '  Last  night 
I  dreamed  that  I  must  go  to  the  top  of  such  a  hill. 
"When  I  awoke  the  dream  made  such  an  impression  on  my 
mind  that  I  could  not  rest.    I  therefore  went  and  called 


RICHARD  BOARDMAN. 


m 


upon  this  man  to  accompany  me.  When  we  came  to  the 
place  we  saw  nothing  more  than  usual.  However,  I  begged 
him  to  go  with  me  to  another  hill  at  a  small  distance,  and 
there  we  saw  your  distressed  situation.'  When  we  got 
ashore  I  went  with  my  two  friends  to  a  public  liouse  not  far 
(|istant  from  where  we  landed  ;  and  as  we  were  relating  the 
wonderful  providence,  the  landlady  said,  'This  day  month 
we  saw  a  gentleman  just  in  your  situation ;  but  before  we 
could  hasten  to  his  relief  he  plunged  into  the  sea,  supposing, 
as  we  concluded,  that  his  horse  would  swim  to  the  shore  ;  but 
they  both  sank,  and  were  drowned  together.'  I  gave  my 
deliverers  all  the  money  I  had,  which  I  think  was  about 
eighteen  pence,  and  tarried  all  night  at  the  hotel.  Next 
morning  I  was  not  a  little  embarrassed  how  to  pay  my 
reckoning,  for  the  want  of  cash,  and  begged  my  landlord 
would  keep  a  pair  of  silver  spurs  till  I  should  redeem  them ;. 
but  he  answered,  '  The  Lord  bless  you,  sir,  I  would  not  take 
a  farthing  from  you  for  the  world.'  After  some  serious  con- 
versation with  the  friendly  people,  I  bade  them  farewell,  and 
recommenced  my  journey,  rejoicing  in  the  Lord,  and  praising 
him  for  his  great  salvation." 

BOARDMAN  AND  THE  MOTHER  OF  THE  REV.  JABEZ 
BUNTING. 

In  August,  1769,  a  strange  man  passed  through  the  quiet 
village  of  Money  ash,  in  Derbyshire.  It  was  noised  abroad 
that  one  who  was  on  his  way  to  embark  for  America  as  a 
missionary,  would  preach  in  the  Methodist  chapel.  His 
name  was  Richard  Boardman,  the  first  missionary  sent  out 
by  John  Wesley.  At  that  day,  and  in  that  place,  a  mission- 
ary was  a  strange  phenomenon,  and  many  came  to  hear* 
His  text  was  1  Chron.  iv,  9,  10,  the  prayer  of  Jabez.  To 
the  seeking  heart  of  at  least  one  young  woman  the  Lord 
sent,  by  his  hand,  a  saving  message.  Ten  years  afterward 
she  was  rejoicing  over  the  birth  of  a  first,  and,  as  it  proved, 


180 


THE  HEROES  OF  METHODISM. 


an  only  son.  She  remembered  the  words  that  had  been 
made  a  balm  to  her  soul,  and  vowing  her  child  to  the  Lord, 
"  called  his  name  Jabez."  Full  oft  did  that  pious  mother 
put  up  for  her  little  one  the  prayer  of  Jabez :  "  0  that  thou 
wouldest  bless  me  indeed,  and  enlarge  my  coast,  and  that 
thine  hand  might  be  with  me,  and  that  thou  wouldest  keep 
me  from  evil,  that  it  may  not  grieve  me !"  While  he  was 
yet  an  infant  she  carried  him  to  Oldham-street  Chapel,  Man- 
chester, and  there  presented  him  to  John  Wesley.  Well 
stricken  in  years,  the  evangelist  took  the  child  in  his  arms, 
and  pronounced  upon  it  a  blessing. 

Nearly  twenty  years  from  that  day  tv/o  young  men  of  about 
the  same  age  are  seen  walking  out  from  Manchester.  The 
younger  of  the  two  is  about  the  middle  size — slender,  pale, 
and  delicate.  His  countenance  has  an  engaging  air  of 
purity,  generosity,  and  sense ;  and  at  his  head  you  cannot 
but  look  again,  for,  though  bearing  no  poetic  promise,  it  has 
a  remarkable  look  of  compactness  and  power.  The  two 
friends  reach  a  cottage  or  a  farm-house,  where  a  few  humble 
people  meet  to  hear  the  Gospel.  The  one  we  have  described, 
Jabez  Bunting,  begins  the  service;  his  companion,  James 
Wood,  watches  earnestly.  In  that  look  mingles,  with  the 
kindness  of  no  common  friendship,  real  curiosity,  and  a  little  of 
critical  attention ;  for  he  has  been  for  some  time  in  the  habit 
of  preaching,  but  his  friend  Jabez  is  making  his  first  attempt. 
No  wonder  that  he  is  curious  to  know  what  will  be  the 
success  of  a  youth  so  unlike  other  youths.  "  Ye  believe  in 
God,  believe  also  in  me,"  is  the  text  of  the  modest  beginner. 
All  of  curiosity  or  anxiety  that  marked  the  expression  of  his 
friend  passes  gradually  away;  confidence,  satisfaction,  de- 
light, positive  triumph,  steal  over  his  intelligent  features ; 
and  finally  you  see  him  in  a  perfect  rapture,  every  lineament 
exclaiming,  "  I  never  heard  a  better  sermon  !  Jabez  shall 
be  more  honourable  than  his  brethren  I" — London  Christian 
Times. 


RICHARD  BOARDMAN. 


181 


BOARDMAN  AND  THE  SOLDIERS. 

Mr.  Boardman,  in  a  letter  to  Mr.  Wesley,  dated  New- York, 
November  4th,  1769,  says :  "  When  I  came  to  Philadelphia 
I  found  a  little  society,  and  preached  to  a  great  number  of 
people.  I  left  brother  Pilmoor  there,  and  set  out  for  New- 
York.  Coming  to  a  large  town*  on  my  way,  and  seeing  a 
barrack,  I  asked  a  soldier  if  there  were  any  Methodists  be- 
longing to  it.  '  O  yes,'  said  he,  '  we  are  all  Methodists ! 
that  is,  we  should  all  be  glad  to  hear  a  Methodist  preach.' 
*  Well,'  said  I,  '  tell  them  in  the  barrack  that  a  Methodist 
preacher,  just  come  from  England,  intends  to  preach  here  to- 
night.' He  did  so,  and  the  inn  was  soon  surrounded  with 
soldiers.  I  asked,  '  Where  do  you  think  I  can  get  a  place  to 
preach  in  V  (it  being  dark.)  One  of  them  said, '  I  will  go  and 
see  if  I  can  get  the  Presbyterian  meeting-house.'  He  did 
so,  and  soon  returned,  to  tell  me  he  had  prevailed,  and 
that  the  bell  was  just  going  to  ring,  to  let  all  the  town 
know.  A  great  company  got  together,  and  seemed  much 
affected." 

This  must  have  been  about  the  first  Methodist  sermon  in 
Trenton  ;  though  Captain  Webb  preached  there  just  before, 
or  soon  after  Mr.  Boardman's  visit. 

BOARDMAN  AND  PILMOOR. 

The  names  of  Richard  Boardman  and  Joseph  Pilmoor  should 
be  associated,  as  they  were  the  first  regular  Wesleyan  min- 
isters who  volunteered  to  come  to  America;  they  also 
returned  to  Europe  together.  We  will  give  one  character- 
istic anecdote  of  the  colleague  of  Boardman.    It  is  found  in 

Mr.  Boardman  does  not  name  the  town ;  but  I  think  it  must 
have  been  Trenton,  N.  J.,  which  was  then  a  large  town,  and  the 
soldiers  were  stationed  there  at  that  time,  and  there  are  buildings 
etill  remaining  which  they  occupied  for  barracks. 


182  THE  HEROES  OF  METHODISM. 


the  "  Life  and  Times  of  Jesse  Lee."  I  believe  it  was  related 
by  William  Waters. 

PILMOOR  AND  THE  PARISH  PRIEST. 

Norfolk,  Virginia,  vras  distinguished  for  its  wickedness. 
William  Waters  speaks  of  it  as  "the  most  wicked  place 
he  ever  set  his  foot  in."  Mr.  Pilmoor  had  preached  there, 
and  his  preaching  produced  considerable  eflfect  on  the  public 
mind ;  but  his  fidelity  and  zeal  had  brought  upon  the  infant 
society  the  vigorous  opposition  of  the  parish  minister. 
During  the  absence  of  Mr.  Pilmoor  from  Norfolk,  and  just 
before  his  return,  the  clergyman  preached  a  sermon,  in  which 
he  undertook  to  represent  the  Methodists  as  enthusiasts  and 
deceivers.  The  text  selected  for  this  notable  purpose  was, 
"Be  not  righteous  over  much."  In  the  discourse,  among 
other  things,  he  told  the  people — what  none  of  them  would 
have  otherwise  suspected — that  he  knew  from  experience  the 
evil  of  being  overmuch  righteous.  He  failed  to  establish  his 
positions,  and  said  so  much  that  his  friends  were  dissatisfied. 
If  he  thought  Mr.  Pilmoor  would  not  return,  or  that  he  would 
take  no  public  notice  of  the  matter,  he  was  sadly  disappointed 
in  his  expectations.  Mr.  Pilmoor  returned  in  a  few  days,  and 
gave  public  notice  of  his  intention  to  preach  on  the  verse  next 
following  the  parson's  text :  "  Be  not  overmuch  wicked."  At 
the  hour  appointed  the  town  seemed  to  be  in  motion,  and  a 
great  crowd  collected  in  the  place  of  preaching.  After  reading 
his  text,  Mr.  Pilmoor  said  he  had  been  informed  that  a  cer- 
tain divine  of  the  town  had  given  the  citizens  a  solemn  cau- 
tion against  being  over-righteous.  Then  lifting  up  his  hands, 
and  with  a  very  significant  countenance,  he  exclaimed,  "  And 
in  Norfolk  he  hath  given  this  caution  !"  That  was  enough. 
The  conduct  of  the  parson  was  rendered  odious  and  con- 
temptible, and  the  people  were  unexpectedly  but  severely 
rebuked. 


REY.  CALEB  B.  PEDICOBD. 


THE  REV.  CALEB  B.  PEDICORD. 


The  mention  of  the  name  of  Pedicord  will  thrill  through  the 
souls  of  the  readers  acquainted  with  his  brief  history,  charac- 
ter, and  end.  Caleb,  like  the  one  whose  name  he  bore, 
possessed  another  spirit  from  the  timid,  time-serving  minis- 
ter; a  spirit  that  did  honour  to  the  cause  he  had  espoused, 
and  the  Commander  whom  he  served ;  and  we  regret  that 
one  so  eloquent,  so  sweet  and  heavenly-tempered — combining 
tiie  courage  of  Caleb  with  the  meekness  of  Moses,  the  zeal 
of  Cephas  with  the  aflfection  of  John,  the  decision  of  Paul 
with  the  eloquence  of  Apollos — should  have  lived  such  a 
brief  period;  that  such  a  bright  and  shining  light  should 
have  been  so  soon  extinguished ;  that  such  an  eloquent 
tongue  should  have  been  so  soon  palsied  in  death  ;  that 
such  a  sweet  and  heavenly  spirit  should  have  dwelt  in  that 
house  of  clay  no  longer ;  that  such  an  able  minister  of  the 
New  Testament  should  have  been  so  soon  removed  from  the 
walls  of  Zion !  But  we  have  this  to  comfort  us,  "  God  buried 
his  workman,  but  carries  on  his  work." 

He  suflFered  heroically  in  promoting  the  cause  of  his  Mas- 
ter. The  Rev.  E.  Cooper  says,  "  In  Dorchester,  Caleb  Pedi- 
cord were  whipped,  and  badly  hurt  upon  the  public  road ; 
he  carried  his  scars  to  the  grave." 

Eight  brief  years  were  the  period  he  spent  in  the  itinerant 
ministry,  and  then  exchanged  labour  for  rest.  He  united  * 
with  the  conference 'in  1111,  and  died  in  1*785.  That  year 
is  the  first  in  which  the  question  is  asked  in  the  Minutes, 
"  Who  have  died  this  year  ?"  The  answer  is,  "  Caleb  B. 
Pedicord." 


186  THE  HEROES  OF  METHODISM. 


This  is  the  first  record  of  the  kind  in  the  Minutes,  but  not 
the  last.  The  record  increases — the  list  of  the  names  of  those 
over  whom  death  has  triumphed  swells  and  enlarges,  till  it 
becomes  a  great  multitude. 

His  character  is  thus  drawn  in  the  Minutes  by  the  masterly 
hand  of  Asbury,  who  seems  to  have  followed  the  example  of 
Wesley  for  brevity  :  "  Caleb  B.  Pedicord,  a  man  of  sorrows, 
and,  like  his  Master,  acquainted  with  grief;  but  a  man  dead 
to  the  world,  and  much  devoted  to  God."  In  a  few  words 
the  character  is  finished,  the  portrait  is  complete,  and  we 
gaze  upon  it  with  admiration. 


^ntlsatn  Illustrations* 

SINGING  ON  HIS  WAY. 

Thomas  Ware  informs  us  that  once,  while  he  was  in  a 
thoughtful  mood,  in  a  thicket,  a  stranger  passed  him.  The 
traveller,  who  could  not  see  Mr.  Ware  in  his  concealment, 
began  to  sing  as  he  passed  by : 

"  Still  out  of  the  deepest  abyss 

Of  trouble  I  mournfully  cry, 
And  pine  to  recover  my  peace, 

And  see  my  Redeemer,  and  die. 

"  I  cannot,  I  cannot  forbear 
These  passionate  longings  for  home  ; 

0,  when  shall  my  spirit  be  there  ! 
0,  when  will  the  messenger  come!" 

Mr.  Ware  goes  on :  "  As  he  walked  his  horse  slowly,  I 
heard  every  word  distinctly,  and  was  deeply  touched,  not 
only  with  the  melody  of  his  voice,  which  was  among  the  best 
I  ever  heard,  but  with  the  words  he  uttered,  and  especially 
the  couplet, 


CALEB  B.  PEDICORD. 


187 


•  T  cannot,  I  cannot  forbear 

Tliese  passionate  longings  for  home/  " 

Mr.  Ware  was  so  charmed  with  the  melody  of  the 
voice  and  the  sentiments  of  the  hymn,  that  he  followed 
on  at  a  distance,  hoping  to  hear  another  of  the  songs  of 
Zion.  The  stranger  stopped  at  the  house  of  a  Methodist, 
and  dismounted.  Mr.  Ware  then  concluded  he  must  be  a 
Methodist  preacher,  and  would  probably  preach  in  the 
evening.  This  happy  stranger,  cheerful  as  an  angel  on  an 
errand  of  mercy,  was  Caleb  B.  Pedicord. 

Some  Methodists  in  the  town  informed  Mr.  Ware  that 
Mr.  Pedicord,  a  most  excellent  preacher,  would  preach  in  the 
evening,  and  invited  him  to  come  and  hear  him.  This  was 
at  Mount  Holly,  N.  J. 

Mr.  Ware  told  him  he  presumed  he  had  seen  the  preacher, 
and  heard  him  sing  along  the  road.  Mr.  Ware  inquired  of 
the  brother  if  he  knew  such  a  hymn  ;  he  replied  he  did  very 
well,  and  immediately  commenced  and  sung  it  to  the  same 
tune ;  and,  as  he  was  an  excellent  singer,  it  so  thrilled 
through  the  soul  of  Mr.  Ware  that  it  melted  him  to  tears. 

PEDICORD'S  TEXT  AND  SERMON. 

In  the  evening  Mr.  Ware  went  to  hear  this  sweet  singer  of 
Israel  preach.  The  singing  had  charmed  him  ;  what  effect 
would  the  sermon  have? 

He  says,  "Mr.  Pedicord  sung  and  prayed  delightfully." 
His  text  pleased  him.  It  was  just  such  a  one  as  an  early 
pioneer  of  Methodism  would  have  taken — repentance  and 
remission  of  sins,  the  atonement,  "the  sinner's  short  way 
to  God,"  the  fulness  and  freeness  of  salvation.  His  text 
was  from  the  24th  chapter  of  Luke :  "  Then  opened  he  their 
understanding,  that  they  might  understand  the  Scriptures. 
And  he  said  unto  them.  Thus  it  is  written,  and  thus  it  be- 
hooved Christ  to  suffer,  and  to  rise  from  the  dead  the  third 
9 


188 


THE  HEROES  OF  METHODISM. 


day,  that  repentance  and  remission  of  sins  should  be  preached 
in  his  name  among  all  nations,  beginning  at  Jerusalem." 
"  Soon,"  says  Mr.  Ware,  "  was  I  convinced  that  all  men 
were  redeemed,  and  might  be  saved — and  saved  now,  from 
the  guilt,  practice,  and  love  of  sin.  With  this  I  was  greatly 
aflfected,  and  could  hardly  refrain  from  exclaiming  aloud, 
*  This  is  the  best  intelligence  I  ever  heard.' " 


PEDICORD  THE  SPIRITUAL  FATHER  OF  THOMAS 
WARE. 

There  are  periods  in  a  young  man's  history  when  he 
reaches  a  crisis,  from  which  he  rises  or  falls.  It  is  evident 
that  this  was  such  a  fearful  crisis  with  Thomas  Ware. 
"  About  this  time,"  says  he,  "  I  contracted  an  acquaintance 
with  a  young  man  of  insinuating  manners,  who  was  com- 
pleting the  study  of  navigation.  He  was  expecting  to  go  to 
sea  with  a  brother-in-law,  who  was  an  experienced  com- 
mander, as  his  mate,  in  a  brig,  which  was  nearly  fitted  for 
the  voyage.  He  had  the  address  to  induce  me  to  engage  in 
the  same  study  with  him,  promising  to  give  me  all  the 
aid  he  could  until  the  brig  w^as  ready,  and  that  I  should 
have  the  steward's  berth  on  board,  when  he  would  assist 
me  in  my  studies  until  I  had  acquired  a  knowledge  of  the 
art;  and  he  said  he  doubted  not  that  we  should  make  our 
fortunes.  The  brig  was  to  carry  a  few  long  guns,  have  a 
picked  crew,  and  outsail  everything  on  the  seas.  Such 
were  the  inducements  held  out  to  me  to  enhst  in  the 
enterprise ;  but  I  knew  not  the  deep-laid  scheme.  The  truth 
of  the  matter  was,  as  it  turned  out,  that  the  owners  were 
their  country's  enemies;  and  the  brig  was  designed  to 
carry  on  a  contraband  trade  with  the  British.  Between 
the  owners  and  the  enemy  there  was  an  understanding. 
The  vessel,  laden  with  provisions,  was  to  be  thrown  in  their 
way,  and  to  be  captured ;  and  thrn  a  liberal  price  was  to  be 


CALEB  B.  PEDICOED. 


189 


paid  for  the  cargo,  and  she  permitted  to  escape.  Some  of 
the  persons  engaged  in  this  adventure  had  held  offices  under 
the  government,  and  were  still  deemed  friends  to  their 
country.  They  had,  besides,  enticed  some  who  had  borne 
a  conspicuous  part  in  the  service  to  favour  their  plot,  not 
doubting  of  success ;  and,  if  they  could  not  persuade  those 
who  were  not  in  it  that  their  capture  was  real  and  unavoid- 
able, they  hoped  to  quiet  them  with  money. 

"  Ignorant  of  all  this  design  and  treachery,  I  was  drawn  to 
the  very  verge  of  the  abyss,  and  suspected  it  not.  The  brig 
was  ready  to  sail,  and  the  captain  was  in  our  village.  I  had 
been  introduced  to  him,  and  the  time  was  set  for  me  to  prepare, 
at  a  moment's  warning,  to  embark  and  enter  upon  the  duties 
of  my  office.  Thus  things  stood,  when  a  merciful  Providence 
interposed,  and  prevented  my  name  being  enrolled  upon  the 
scroll  of  infamy.  I  was  as  a  frail  bark  tossed  upon  a  stormy 
and  unknown  sea.  The  sea  had  become  calm,  but  I  had 
neared  a  vortex,  and  had  been  well-nigh  swallowed  up. 
But  a  kind  breeze  sprung  up  at  the  time  of  imminent 
danger,  and  I  was  wafted  into  a  harbour  of  safety  and 
dehght. 

"  When  the  meeting  closed,  I  hastened  to  my  lodgings, 
retired  to  my  room,  fell  upon  my  knees  before  God,  and 
spent  much  of  the  night  in  penitential  tears.  I  did  not  once 
think  of  my  engagement  with  my  sea-bound  companions, 
until  the  next  day,  when  I  went  and  told  the  young  man 
who  had  induced  me  to  enlist  into  the  project,  that  I  had 
abandoned  all  thoughts  of  going  to  sea.  They,  however, 
proceeded  in  their  perilous  undertaking,  were  betrayed,  their 
officers  thrown  into  prison,  and  the  brig  and  cargo  confis- 
cated. When  I  heard  of  this,  I  praised  the  Lord  for  my 
deliverance  from  this  danger  and  infamy,  which  I  considered 
worse  than  death. 

"  I  now  gave  up  the  study  of  navigation,  and  abandoned 
all  company  but  that  of  the  pious.  The  New  Testament  I 
read  over  and  over,  and  was  charmed  with  the  character  of 


190  THE  HEROES  OF  METHODISE!. 


God  our  Saviour,  as  revealed  in  it ;  and  I  esteemed  reproach, 
for  his  sake,  more  desirable  than  all  earthly  treasure." 

PEDICORD  RECEIVES  THE  THANKS  OF  THOMAS 
WARE. 

"Mr.  Pedicord  returned  again  to  our  village.  I  hastened  to 
see  him,  and  tell  him  all  that  was  in  my  heart.  He  shed 
tears  over  me,  and  prayed.  I  was  dissolved  in  tears.  He 
prayed  again.  My  soul  was  filled  with  unutterable  delight. 
He  now  rejoiced  over  me  as  a  son,  '  an  heir  of  God,  and  a 
joint  heir  with  Christ.'  I  felt  and  knew  that  I.  was  made 
free ;  and,  as  I  had  been  firm  in  my  attachment  to  the  cause 
of  civil  freedom,  I  did  hope  that  I  should  be  enabled  to  stand 
fast  in  the  liberty  wherewith  Christ  had  made  me  free. 

"  Soon  after  I  wrote  to  the  good  man,  in  a  manner  ex- 
pressive of  my  feehngs  when  I  first  heard  him  preach,  as 
well  as  those  which  followed.  In  the  ardour  and  simplicity 
of  my  soul,  I  said,  '  A  thousand  blessings  on  the  man  who 
brought  me  this  intelligence.  On  my  bended  knees  I 
owned  the  doctrine  true,  and  said  it  was  enough — I  may  be 
happy — heaven  may  be  mine,  since  Jesus  tasted  death  for 
all,  and  wills  them  to  be  saved  I  But  I  am  not  myself;  my 
hopes  and  fears  are  new.  O,  may  I  never  lose  this  tender- 
ness of  heart  I  Yes,  my  friend,  I  am  thy  debtor.  To  me 
thou  hast  restored  my  Bible  and  my  God ;  and  shall  I  be 
ungrateful  ?  No ;  I  will  see  thee,  and  confess  the  whole. 
Thy  God  and  thy  people  shall  be  mine.'" — T.  Ware. 

PEDICORD  AND  JOE  MOLLINER. 

*'It  must  have  been  in  the  year  lV81,that  the  notorious 
refugee  and  tory,  'Joe  Molliner,'  was  captured  and  impris- 
oned. This  man,  while  his  countrymen  were  in  the  battle- 
field,  fighting  for  liberty,  equality,  and  all  the  rights  of  man ; 


CALEB  B.  PEDICORD. 


191 


and  the  women  of  his  country  were  at  home,  suffering  all 
but  starvation  and  deatli — as  neglected  fields,  and  empty 
granaries,  and  many  other  disorders,  could  fully  display — this 
man,  with  a  band  of  miscreants,  lived  by  plunder,  rapine, 
and  blood ;  robbing  those  who  had  anything  to  lose  ;  burn- 
ing by  fire,  wantonly  and  maliciously,  that  which  could  not 
be  conveyed  to  the  recesses  of  the  swamp,  where  the  tory 
robbers  camped. 

"  The  daring,  lawless  depredations  of  this  Molliner  and  his 
gang — committed  for  several  years,  and  all  along  the  Atlan- 
tic shores,  through  the  counties  of  Monmouth  and  Atlantic, 
by  land  and  by  water,  by  day  and  by  night,  taking  advan- 
tage of  the  absence  of  the  youthful  and  strong  men,  and  com- 
mitting intolerable  outrages  upon  aged  men  and  helpless 
females — at  length  roused  the  wrath  of  the  people,  until  it 
took  the  form  of  vengeance.  Pursuit  was  instituted ;  and 
Molliner  was  taken,  and  conveyed  to  Burlington,  the  seat 
of  justice  for  the  same  county  at  that  period.  Here  he  was 
imprisoned  for  about  six  weeks ;  in  the  space  of  which  time 
he  was  tried  by  the  court,  condemned,  and  sentenced  to  be 
hanged  by  the  neck  until  dead. 

"  During  the  term  of  his  imprisonment,  Caleb  Pedicord 
and  Joseph  Cromwell  visited  the  unhappy  wretch.  William 
Budd,  of  New-Mills,  a  man  of  deep  piety,  sound  mind,  and 
respectable  preaching  abilities,  joined  with  the  loving,  weep- 
ing Pedicord,  and  the  powerfully  persuasive  Joseph  Crom- 
well, to  induce  this  soul,  so  guilty,  and  so  nigh  God's  judg- 
ment bar,  to  hear  the  words  of  warning,  and  to  accept  the 
ofiers  of  grace,  through  the  crucified  Jesus.  He  became 
alarmed,  and  repented  most  sincerely,  confessing  all  his  base- 
ness. They  uttered  to  him  the  words  of  invitation,  and  the 
trembling,  repentaijt  sinner  believed  on  the  name  of  Jesus, 
and  was  pardoned.  Yes,  this  nefarious  sinner,  as  those 
preachers  testified,  exhibited  positive  proof  'that  God,  for 
Christ's  sake,  had  pardoned  all  his  sins.'  His  soul  was 
happy  in  the  old  jail  of  Burlington ;  the  cell  of  the  con- 


192  THE  HEROES  OF  METHODISM. 

demned  crirainal  became  the  altar  of  his  salvation — the 
place  of  liis  reception  among  the  saved  by  grace.  What  an 
act  of  majestic  mercy  !  In  this  case,  the  extent  of  God's 
clemency  in  Christ  Jesus  surpassed  all  human  conceptions. 
Yet  it  was  so ;  the  soul  of  that  deeply-stained  sinner 
was  washed  in  the  blood  of  the  Lamb  of  God;  and  the 
prayers,  tears,  and  songs  of  the  saved  soul  of  Molliner,  min- 
gled with  those  of  the  servants  of  Jesus,  who  brought  him, 
perhaps  for  the  first  time  in  his  life,  the  tidings  of  Gospel 
grace,  a  knowledge  of  the  plan  of  salvation,  and  the  efficacy 
of  faith  and  prayer,  even  in  a  case  so  desperate. 

"  Some,  perhaps,  will  say,  '  Ah,  well,  if  so  abominable  a 
sinner  as  Joe  Molliner  can  go  to  heaven,  nobody  need 
despair.'  How  many  thousands,  not  so  blackly  dyed  in  sin, 
have  resisted  and  rejected  a  thousand  calls,  and  still  remain, 
alas !  unsaved ;  and  they  may  so  die,  and  be  lost  forever. 
The  ways  of  God  are  equal ;  thy  ways  are  unequal,  O  child 
of  mortality !  How  often,  under  such  melancholy  circum- 
stances as  those  of  Molliner,  when  the  grace  of  God  is  dis- 
played in  the  salvation  of  the  culprit,  do  we  hear  such 
sophistical  reasoning,  and  unwise  murmurings,  and  unholy 
resolutions  to  continue  in  the  neglect  of  the  means  of  grace; 
and  yet  these  same  persons  expect  salvation  and  happiness 
after  death,  forsooth,  because  '  a  thief  upon  the  cross '  was 
saved,  or  a  murderer  in  his  cell  is  converted,  and  leaves  his 
dying  testimony  in  proof  of  the  amazing  mercy  ,  of  the  Most 
High.  The  moral  of  this  subject  is.  Let  none  presume ;  let 
none  despair. 

"  On  the  day  of  the  execution,  our  informant,  the  Rev. 
John  Walker,  then  a  young  man  seventeen  years  old,  resid- 
ing in  Mount  Holly,  united  with  a  friend  and  procured  a 
horse ;  and,  mounted  one  behind  the  other,  in  this  manner 
rode  to  the  scene  of  the  last  act  of  Molliner's  eventful  life. 
Thousands  of  people,  it  was  computed,  were  there  collected 
from  all  parts  of  the  country,  in  all  manner  of  convey- 
ances, from  the  humble  equestrian  we  have  described,  the 


CALEB  B.  PEDICORD. 


t9S 


ox-te&m,  and  its  load  of  living  curiosities  from  the  interior 
of  the  Pines,  even  to  the  more  aristocratic  and  heavy  coach, 
of  which  but  few  could  bo  produced,  down  to  the  thousands 
on  that  means  of  locomotion,  the  feet,  that  the  Lord  made 
for  mortals.  The  military  were  also  there,  in  their  tarnished 
uniforms,  and  with  their  glittering  arms.  The  music  sound- 
ed dolefully  as  the  wagon  approached,  containing  Molliner, 
his  coffin,  and  the  faithful  three — the  ministers  Pedicord, 
Cromwell,  and  Budd.  The  huge  procession  passed  out  of 
Burlington,  over  Ewling's  bridge,  to  a  place  called  *  Gallows 
Hill.'  The  wagon  halted  under  the  fatal  tree,  and  the  sol- 
'liers  were  arranged  around  the  vicinity  in  a  square.  The 
dense  mass  of  anxious  spectatoi*s  pressed  closer  and  closer 
to  the  object  on  which  all  eyes  were  now  fixed.  Molliner 
arose,  and  gazed  upon  the  crowd ;  his  countenance  seemed 
changed ;  he  spoke  at  some  length,  acknowledged  his  guilt, 
and  begged  the  people  to  pray  for  him;  then,  closing 
his  eyes,  he  sat  down,  and  appeared  to  be  in  an  agony 
of  prayer. 

"  Mr.  Pedicord,  standing  in  the  wagon  beside  the  cof- 
fin, gave  out  a  text,  and  preached  a  suitable  sermon, 
which  affected  all  hearts  within  hearing  of  his  sweetly 
musical  voice,  whose  melting  tones  seldom  failed  to  draw 
tears  from  all  eyes.  The  people  wept  and  sobbed  while 
they  heard.  After  the  sermon,  a  prayer  was  offered  by  one 
of  the  other  preachers.  On  standing  up  again,  Molliner 
requested  them  to  sing,  and  a  hymn  was  sung.  At  the 
close  Molliner  was  deeply  exercised,  clapping  his  hands  ex- 
ultingly,  and  exclaiming,  '  I 've  found  Him !  I 've  found 
Him!  Now  I  am  ready.'  He  adjusted  the  rope  to  his 
neck,  took  leave  of  those  around  him,  and  then  said  again, 
*I  am  ready;  driye  off!'  The  horse  started,  the  wagon 
passed  from  beneath  his  feet,  he  swung  round  a  few  turns, 
settled,  struggled  once  for  a  moment,  then  all  was  still ! 
The  spirit  of  the  daring  refugee  was  in  the  presence  of  his 
God!"— i2ev.  G.  A,  Rayhold, 


194 


THE  HEROES  OF  METHODISM. 


PEDICORD  AND  THE  YOUNG  LADY. 

We  know  so  little  of  this  excellent  man  of  God,  long  since 
in  Abrahcam's  bosom,  that  it  is  very  refreshing  to  find  the 
following  letter  to  a  young  female  friend.  It  is  a  beautiful 
specimen  of  his  correspondence,  and  strikingly  illustrates  his 
character : 

"  Virginia,  January  I2th,  1783. 
"Miss  Patty, — Your  friendly  letter  came  safe  to  hand  a 
few  days  since.  I  have  read  it  again  and  again,  and  was  so 
happy  as  to  catch  the  tender  spirit  in  which  it  was  written.  It 
affords  matter  of  real  joy  even  to  hear  from  my  dear  friends; 
but  to  receive  a  letter,  containing  an  account  of  their  spiritual 
welfare,  is  cause  of  more  abundant  consolation.  You  are 
pleased  to  thank  me  for  my  former  letter,  and  also  express 
your  approbation  of  the  thoughts  hinted  in  favour  of  early 
piety.  I  am  more  than  ever  persuaded  of  the  propriety  of 
them,  though  I  feel  myself  very  insufficient  to  give  instruc- 
tion to  those  who  are  surrounded  with  every  helpful  and 
favourable  circumstance.  I  take  knowledge  from  your  let- 
ter that  you  entertain  low  thoughts  of  yourself.  Our  souls 
prosper  the  most  under  the  shade  of  the  cross  ;  and  it  is  wel' 
to  go  down  the  necessary  steps  into  the  valley  of  humiliation 
When  praying  as  in  the  dust,  our  devotion  is  in  character; 
but,  in  the  meantime,  let  us  remember,  help  is  laid  upon 
One  that  is  mighty.  '  Look  unto  me,'  is  his  language ;  he 
blesses  the  broken  in  heart,  and  comforts  the  contrite  spirit. 
He  is  the  strength  of  the  weak,  the  overflowing  fountain  of 
all  goodness,  who  delights  in  administering  suitable  comfort 
according  to  our  various  cases.  Let  faith  (which  is  the  eye 
of  the  soul)  momently  behold  a  reconciled  God ;  ever  re- 
membering that,  in  striving  to  believe,  and  in  the  exercise 
of  faith,  it  is  obtained  and  increased :  the  secret,  inward,  pow- 
erful eflfects  of  living  faith  are  almost  a  mystery  to  those  who 


CALEB  B.  PEDICORD. 


195 


feel  them.  Salvation  by  faith  is  what  the  Scripture  strongly 
recommends.  It  is  true,  God  is  the  author,  Christ  the  ob- 
ject, and  the  heart  the  subject ;  but,  notwithstanding  this, 
it  has  pleased  our  great  Author  to  bestow  this  precious 
gift  in  proportion  to  our  willingness  to  receive  and  improve 
it.  Love  also  is  the  glorious  spring  of  all  outward  and  in- 
ward holiness.  Happy  for  us  when  we  feel  this  holy, 
heavenly,  active  principle  operating,  and  sweetly  attracting 
our  willing  hearts  into  all  the  graces  and  virtues  of  hving 
religion.  Hope,  O  blooming  hope,  which  constantly  eyes  the 
future  promised  inheritance !  O  Patty,  let  these  three  graces 
be  in  lively  exercise !  Indeed,  I  am  at  a  loss  to  describe  the 
many  blessings  that  flow  from  a  conviction  of  our  being  in- 
terested in  the  favour  of  the  Lord.  Those  comforts  and 
graces  do  not  naturally  belong  to  man  ;  it  is  fruit  that  ^rows 
not  upon  nature's  tree.  It  follows,  that  in  order  to  abound 
in  them,  we  must  eye  His  will,  who  is  the  author  and  giver 
of  them ;  which,  no  doubt,  calls  for  the  mighty  exertions  of 
all  our  ransomed  powers,  carefully  walking  in,  and  con- 
stantly looking  through,  all  the  means  of  divine  institution. 
So  shall  we  sail  as  upon  broad  waters,  and  our  feet  stand  in 
a  wealthy  place. 

"  I  continue  a  son  of  affliction,  but  still  fill  up  my  appoint- 
ments. Remember  me  affectionately  to  your  grandmamma, 
who  behaved  to  me  as  a  mother,  sister.  Christian,  and 
friend. 

"  The  blessed  God  bless  you,  and  keep  you  blooming  for 
a  blissful  immortality.    Yours,  &c., 

"  Caleb  B.  Pkdicord." 

9* 


REV.  WILLIAM  GILL. 
REV.  JOHN  TUNNELL. 
REV:  RICHARD  IVY. 


THE  REV.  AVILLIAM  GILL. 


William  Gill  was  an  "  able  minister  of  the  New  Test- 
ament," with  a  very  clear  head  and  a  very  warm  heart. 
He  was  of  a  philosophical  turn ;  could  soar  to  that  which 
was  high,  and  fathom  that  which  was  deep.  How  I  regret 
that  we  have  so  brief  an  account  of  him !  He  has  a  history 
written  on  the  archives  of  heaven,  a  biography  on  the  im- 
perishable records  of  eternity,  among  the  lives  of  those  who 
were  "  faithful  unto  death !" 

"William  Gill  was  received  into  the  travelling  connexion 
in  1111 J  and  "finished  his  course  with  joy"  in  1789.  The 
record  in  the  Minutes  is  as  follows : 

"William  Gill,  a  native  of  Delaware;  an  elder  in  the 
Church,  and  a  labourer  in  it  for  twelve  years ;  blameless  in 
life,  of  quick  and  sohd  parts ;  sound  in  the  faith,  clear  in  his 
judgment,  meek  in  his  spirit,  resigned  and  solemnly  happy 
in  his  death." — Minutes  of  1189. 

No  minister  need  wish  to  have  more  said  concerning  him 
when  the  clods  of  the  valley  cover  him,  and  his  soul  has 
returned  to  God. 

A  correspondent  in  the  Christian  Advocate  says,  "  Some 
time  ago,  when  at  a  quarterly-meeting  at  Hynson's  Chapel, 
in  Kent  county,  Md.,  the  Kev.  T.  Smith  said  to  me, 
'  Come,  and  I  will  show  you  where  lie  two  old  Methodist 
preachers.'  One  was  John  Smith,  who  lived  many  years  in 
Chestertown,  a  superannuated  member  of  the  Philadelphia 
Conference;  the  other  was  WilHam  Gill,  of  whom  I  have 
often  heard  the  old  Methodists  speak  in  terms  of  highest 
applause.    The  late  Dr.  Rush,  of  Philadelphia,  was  among 


200 


THE  HEROES  OF  METHODISM. 


his  warmest  admirers.  He  is  said  to  have  remarked,  that 
William  Gill  was  the  greatest  divine  he  ever  heard.  Nothing 
but  a  rough  stone,  without  inscription,  marks  the  spot  where 
sleeps  the  ashes  of  these  venerable  men.  William  Gill  was  a 
native  of  Kent,  Del.,  whence  he  started  in  early  life,  and  in  an 
early  period  of  Methodism,  to  do  the  work  of  a  Methodist  itin- 
erant preacher ;  and,  after  successfully  preaching  a  free  and 
full  salvation  to  his  fellow-men  in  various  parts  of  the  States, 
he  was  arrested  in  the  midst  of  his  usefulness  by  a  disease, 
which  soon  took  him  from  labour  to  reward.  He  died  in 
Chestertown,  Kent  county,  Md. ;  and  when  a  few  more  of 
the  older  men  of  this  generation  pass  away,  the  probability 
is,  no  one  will  know  the  place  of  his  sepulchre,  as  I  was  un- 
successful in  endeavouring  to  persuade  the  Methodists  there 
to  erect  at  his  grave  only  a  plain  head  and  foot  stone ;  but 
his  record  is  on  high."  D.  D. 


THE  REV.  JOHN  TUNNELl. 


John  Tunnell  was  received  into  the  travelling  connexion  in 
1777,  and  was  released  from  his  labours  by  death  in  1790. 
Methodism,  in  its  early  days,  was  favoured  not  only  with  its 
sons  of  thunder,  but  also  its  sons  of  consolation.  Tunnell 
was  an  Apollos — "  mighty  in  the  Scriptures,"  mighty  in  elo- 
quence. His  speech  distilled  as  the  dew,  and  as  the  rain 
upon  the  new-mown  grass.  He  moved,  melted,  and  charmed 
his  audiences.    The  Minutes  speak  of  him  thus : 

"  John  Tunnell,  who  died  of  consumption  at  the  Sweet 
Springs  in  July,  1790,  was  about  thirteen  years  in  the  work 
of  the  ministry ;  a  man  of  solid  piety,  great  simplicity,  and 
godly  sincerity,  well  known  and  much  esteemed  both  by 
ministers  and  people.  He  had  travelled  extensively  through 
the  States,  and  declined  in  sweet  peace." — Minutes  of  Con- 
ference, 1790. 

Bishop  Asbury  paid  the  following  just  tribute  to  his 
departed  friend  and  brother : 

"The  9th  of  July,  1790,  we  were  informed  of  the  death 
of  our  dear  brother,  John  Tunnell. 

"Saturday,  10th  July.  Brother  Tunnell's  corpse  was 
brought  to  Dew's  Chapel.  I  preached  his  funeral  sermon 
my  text,  *For  me  to  live  is  Christ,  to  die  is  gain.' 
We  were  much  blessed,  and  the  power  of  God  was 
eminently  present.  It  is  fourteen  years  since  brother 
Tunnell  first  knew  the  Lord ;  and  he  has  spoken  about 
thirteen  years,  and  travelled  through  eight  of  the  thirteen 
states :  few  men,  as  public  ministers,  were  better  known  or 
more  beloved.    He  was  a  simple-hearted,  artless,  childlike 


202  THE  HEROES  OF  METHODISM. 


man ;  for  his  opportunities,  he  was  a  man  of  good  learning; 
had  a  large  fund  of  Scripture  knowledge,  was  a  good  his- 
torian, a  sensible,  improving  preacher,  a  most  affectionate 
friend,  and  a  great  saint.  He  had  been  wasting  and  declin- 
ing in  strength  and  health  for  the  last  twelve  months,  sinking 
into  a  consumption.  I  am  humbled.  0,  let  my  soul  be 
admonished  to  be  more  devoted  to  God !" — Ashury^s  Journal^ 
vol.  ii,  p.  46. 

What  a  portraiture  of  the  character  of  this  Christian 
minister,  by  the  hand  of  Asbury,  who  was  too  truthful  to 
exaggerate,  too  faithful  to  misrepresent,  and  too  prudent  to 
give  a  fancy  sketch  with  false  colouring. 


TUNNELL  AND  THE  SAILOR. 

"  A  sailor  was  one  day  passing  where  Tunnell  was  preaching. 
He  stopped  to  listen,  and  was  observed  to  be  much  affected ; 
and  on  meeting  with  his  companions  after  he  left,  he  said, 
*I  have  been  listening  to  a  man  who  has  been  dead  and  in 
heaven ;  but  he  has  returned,  and  is  telling  the  people  all 
about  that  world.'  And  he  declared  to  them  he  had  never  , 
been  so  much  affected  by  anything  he  had  ever  seen  or  heard 
before.  True  it  was  that  Tunnell's  appearance  very  much 
resembled  that  of  a  dead  man ;  and  when  with  his  strong 
musical  voice  he  poured  forth  a  flood  of  heavenly  eloquence, 
as  he  frequently  did,  he  appeared,  indeed,  as  a  messenger  from 
the  invisible  world." — Rev.  T,  Ware, 


JOHN  TUNNELL. 


208 


TUNNELL,  GENERAL  RUSSELL  AND  HIS  WIFE. 

Methodism  in  its  early  days  not  only  benefitted  the  poor 
and  the  middling  classes,  but  also  those  who  moved  in  the 
higher  circles  in  life.  It  found  a  welcome  not  only  in  the 
cottage  of  the  humble,  in  the  log-house  of  the  enterprising 
emigrant,  but  also  in  the  mansions  of  the  lich ;  showing  that 
it  was  not  adapted  to  one  class  only,  but  to  all  classes,  from 
the  least  to  the  greatest.  Therefore,  we  find  Governor 
Basset  and  Judge  White,  of  Delaware,  Governor  Van 
Courtland,  the  Van  Wycks,  and  Livingstons,  in  New- York, 
and  General  Russell  and  his  wife,  of  Kentucky,  among  its 
early  members.  Not  only  did  many  of  the  "  common  people  " 
hear  the  Methodist  pioneers  gladly,  but  so  did  some  of  the 
uncommon  people. 

The  Methodist  Conference  in  the  West  was  held  in 
Holstein,  in  1*788.  Bishop  Asbury  did  not  attend,  but 
Asbury's  God  was  there. 

"  We  were  not  idle,"  says  Thomas  Ware,  "  and  the  Lord 
gave  us  many  souls  in  the  place  where  we  were  assembled, 
among  whom  were  General  Russell  and  lady,  the  latter  a 
sister  of  the  illustrious  Patrick  Henry.  I  mention  these 
particularly,  because  they  were  the  first-fruits  of  our  labours 
at  this  conference. 

"  On  the  Sabbath  we  had  a  crowded  audience ;  and  Mr.- 
Tunnell  preached  an  excellent  sermon,  which  produced 
great  effect.  The  sermon  was  followed  by  a  number  of 
powerful  exhortations.  When  the  meeting  closed,  Mi-s. 
Russell  came  to  me  and  said,  'I  thought  I  was  a  Chris- 
tian ;  but,  sir,  I  am  not  a  Christian,  I  am  the  veriest  sinner 
upon  earth.  I  want  you  and  Mr.  Mastin  to  come  with  Mr. 
Tunnell  to  our  house,  and  pray  for  us,  and  tell  us  what  we 
must  do  to  be  saved.'  So  we  went,  and  spent  much  of  the 
afternoon  in  prayer,  especially  for  Mrs.  Russell ;  but  she  did 
not  obtain  deliverance.    Being  much  exhausted,  the  preach- 


204 


THE  HEROES  OF  METHODISM. 


ers  retired  to  a  pleasant  grove  near  at  band,  to  spend  a  short 
time.  After  we  had  retired,  the  general,  seeing  the  agony 
of  soul  under  which  his  poor  wife  was  labouring,  read  to 
her,  by  the  advice  of  his  pious  daughter,  Mr.  Fletcher's 
charming  address  to  mourners,  as  contained  in  his  Appeal. 
At  length  we  heard  the  word  '  Glory !'  often  repeated,  ac- 
companied with  the  clapping  of  hands.  We  hastened  to 
the  house,  and  found  Mrs.  Russell  praising  the  Lord,  and  the 
general  walking  the  floor  and  weeping  bitterly,  uttering,  at 
the  same  time,  this  plaintive  appeal  to  the  Saviour  of  sinners : 
'  O  Lord,  thou  didst  bless  my  dear  wife  while  thy  poor  servant 
was  reading  to  her ;  hast  thou  not  a  blessing  also  for  me  V 
At  length  he  sat  down,  quite  exhausted.  This  scene  was 
in  a  high  degree  interesting  to  us.  To  see  the  old  soldier 
and  statesman — the  proud  opposer  of  godliness — trembling, 
and  earnestly  inquiring  what  he  must  do  to  be  saved,  was  an 
aflfecting  sight.  But  the  work  ended  not  here.  The  con- 
version of  Mrs.  Russell,  whose  zeal,  good  sense,  and  amiable- 
ness  of  character  were  proverbial,  together  with  the  penitential 
grief  so  conspicuous  in  the  general,  made  a  deep  impression 
on  the  minds  of  many  ;  and  numbers  were  brought  in  before 
the  conference  closed.  The  general  rested  not  until  he  knew 
his  adoption ;  and  he  continued  a  faithful  member  of  the 
Church,  and  an  official  member,  after  he  became  eligible  for 
office,  constantly  adorning  the  doctrine  of  God  our  Saviour 
unto  the  end  of  his  life." — Life  of  Thomas  Ware. 

No  doubt  the  reader  would  like  to  know  the  sequel  of  the 
Russell  family.  Rev.  William  Burke  informs  us  that  "  in  the 
fall  of  1792,  General  Russell  and  family  made  a  visit  to  the 
eastern  part  of  Virginia,  among  their  old  friends  and  relations. 
The  general  was  taken  sick,  and  died.  His  daughter,  Chloe 
Russell,  had  just  married  a  travelling  preacher  by  the  name  of 
Hubbard  Saunders.  During  their  visit,  Miss  Sarah  Camp- 
bell, Mrs.  Russell's  daughter,  daughter  of  General  Campbell, 
who  distinguished  himself  at  the  battle  of  King's  Mountain, 
was  married  to  Francis  Preston,  Esq.,  of  Virginia.  Sarah 


JOHN  TUNNELL. 


206 


was  among  the  first  fruits  of  Methodism  in  the  West.  She 
became  the  mother  of  one  of  South  Carolina's  most  gifted 
sons,  whose  eloquence  has  often  been  heard  in  the  senate 
chamber  at  Washington,  namely,  the  Hon.  William  C. 
Preston." 

TUNNELL,  GILL,  AND  PEDICORD  COMPARED. 

"  Gill  was  eagle-eyed,  and,  by  those  whose  powers  of  vision 
were  strong  like  his,  he  was  deemed  one  of  a  thousand ;  but, 
by  the  less  penetrating,  his  talents  could  not  be  fully  appre- 
ciated, as  he  often  soared  beyond  them.  On  this  account 
Gill  was  not  a  favourite  preacher  of  mine ;  but,  in  conversa^ 
tion,  which  afforded  an  opportunity  for  asking  questions  and 
receiving  explanations  on  deep  and  interesting  subjects,  I 
have  seldom  known  his  equal.  Jonathan  and  David  were 
not  more  tenderly  attached  to  each  other  than  were  Tunnell 
and  Gill. 

"  Pedicord  was  a  man  of  fine  manly  form,  and  his  counte-' 
nance  indicated  intelligence  and  much  tender  sensibility. 
His  voice  was  soft  and  remarkably  plaintive;  and 'he  pos- 
sessed the  rare  talent  to  touch  and  move  his  audience  at 
once.  I  have  seen  the  tear  start  and  the  head  fall  before 
he  had  uttered  three  sentences,  which  were  generally  sen- 
tentious. Nor  did  he  raise  expectations  to  disappoint  them. 
Like  Tunnell,  he  arose  as  he  advanced  in  his  subject ;  and 
if  he  could  not,  like  him,  bind  his  audience  with  chains,  he 
could  draw  them  after  him  with  a  silken  cord.  Never  was 
a  man  more  tenderly  beloved  in  our  part  of  the  country  than 
he ;  and  if  the  decision  of  their  relative  claims  devolved  on 
me,  I  should  say  there  was  none  like  Pedicord :  but  he  was 
my  spiritual  father." — Rev.  T.  Ware. 

No  wonder  Mr.  Ware  adds,  "  It  is  a  pity  that  so  few  of 
this  class  of  primitive  American  Methodist  preachers  have 
left  any  written  memorial  of  themselves  and  their  early 
labours."  It  is  a  pity ;  it  is  a  loss  to  the  Church,  to  the 
country,  and  to  the  world  :  a  loss  that  is  irreparable. 


9 


THE  REV.  RICHARD  IVY. 

"  Richard  Ivy  was  a  native  of  Sussex  county,  in  Virginia. 
He  travelled  extensively  through  Jersey,  Pennsylvania,  Mary- 
land, Virginia,  North  and  South  Carolina,  and  Georgia. 
A  man  of  quick  and  solid  parts.  He  sought  not  himself, 
any  more  than  a  Pedicord,  a  Gill,  or  a  Tunnell — men  well 
known  in  our  connexion — who  never  thought  of  growing 
rich  by  the  Gospel ;  their  great  concern  and  bu.siness  was  to 
be  rich  in  grace,  and  useful  to  souls.  Thus  Ivy,  a  man  of 
affliction,  lingering  out  his  latter  days,  spending  his  all  with 
'his  life  in  the  work.  Exclusive  of  his  patrimony,  he  was  in- 
debted at  his  death.  He  died  in  his  native  county,  in  Vir- 
ginia, in- the  latter  part  of  the  year  1795. 

*'  His  race  is  run,  his  sorrows  are  o'er  ; 
His  work  it  is  done,  he  '11  suflFer  no  more." 

Minutes  for  1795. 


IVY  AND  TWO  AMERICAN  OFFICERS. 

As  a  number  of  the  early  Methodist  ministers  were  En- 
ghshmen,  strongly  attached  to  the  mother  country,  all 
of  them  were  suspected  of  being  disloyal  to  this  country. 


RICHARD  IVY. 


Richard  Ivy  was  admitted  on  trial  in  the  travelling  con- 
nexion in  May,  1778.  In  1V82  he  travelled  with  Joshua 
Dudley,  West  Jersey  circuit.  Rev.  Thomas  Ware  resided 
there ;  he  had  been  converted  not  long  before.  He  says, 
"  Learning  that  a  company  of  soldiers,  quartered  near  one  of 
these  appointments,  had  resolved  to  arrest  the  first  preacher 
who  should  come  there,  and  carry  him  to  head- quarters,  I 
determined  to  accompany  him,  hoping,  as  I  was  acquainted 
with  some  of  the  officers,  to  convince  them  that  he  was  no 
enemy  of  his  country.  The  preacher  was  Richard  Ivy,  who 
at  that  time  was  quite  young.  The  rumour  of  what  was 
about  to  be  done  having  gone  abroad,  many  of  the  most 
respectable  inhabitants  of  the  neighbourhood  were  collected 
at  the  place.  Soon  after  the  congregation  was  convened,  a 
file  of  soldiers  were  marched  into  the  yard,  and  halted  near 
the  door ;  and  two  officers  came  in,  drew  their  swords  and 
crossed  them  on  the  table,  and  seated  themselves  one  on  each 
side  of  it,  but  so  as  to  look  the  preacher  full  in  the  face. 

"  I  watched  his  eye  with  great  anxiety,  and  soon  saw  that 
he  was  not  influenced  by  fear.  His  text  was,  'Fear  not, 
little  flock,  for  it  is  your  Father's  good  pleasure  to  give  you 
the  kingdom.'  When  he  came  to  enforce  the  exhortation, 
'  Fear  not,'  he  paused  and  said,  '  Christians  sometimes  fear 
when  there  is  no  cause  for  fear ;'  and  so,  he  added,  he  pre- 
sumed it  was  with  some  then  present.  Those  men  who  were 
engaged  in  the  defence  of  their  country's  right  meant  them 
no  harm.  He  spoke  fluently  and  forcibly  in  commendation 
of  the  cause  of  freedom  from  foreign  and  domestic  tyranny, 
looking  at  the  same  time  first  on  the  swords,  and  then  in  the 
faces  of  the  officers,  as  if  he  would  say,  This  looks  a  little  too 
much  like  domestic  oppression ;  and,  in  conclusion,  bowing 
to  each  of  the  officers,  and  opening  his  bosom,  said,  '  Sirs, 
I  would  fain  show  you  my  heart ;  if  it  beats  not  high  for 
legitimate  liberty,  may  it  forever  cease  to  beat.' 

"  This  he  said  with  such  a  tone  of  voice  and  with  such  a 
look  as  thrilled  the  whole  audience,  and  gave  him  command 


208  THE  HEEOES  OF  METHODISM. 


of  their  feelings.  The  countenances  of  the  officers  at  first 
wore  a  contemptuous  frown,  then  a  significant  smile,  and  then 
they  were  completely  unarmed  ;  they  hung  down  their  heads, 
and  before  the  conclusion  of  this  masterly  address  shook  hke 
the  leaves  of  an  aspen.  Many  of  the  people  sobbed  aloud, 
and  others  cried  out,  Amen !  while  the  soldiers  without  (the 
doors  and  windows  being  open)  swung  their  hats,  and 
shouted,  '  Huzza  for  the  Methodist  parson  !'  On  leaving, 
the  officers  shook  hands  with  the  preacher,  and  wished  him 
well;  and  afterward  said  they  would  share  their  last  shilling 
with  \i\mr—Ufe  of  T,  Ware,  pp.  Yl,  '72. 

This  is  about  all  we  know  of  Richard  Ivy,  except  what  \% 
contained  in  the  Minutes ;  but  this  is  sufficient  to  make  him 
an  evergreen. 


BEY.  JOSEPH  BEADEORD. 


THE  REV.  JOSEPH  BRADFORD, 


Mr.  Bradford  was  thirty-eight  years  an  itinerant  minister  in 
England,  and  finished  his  course  with  joy  in  Hull  in  1808. 
He  was  an  excellent  man,  "a  bright  and  shining  light.'* 
He  preached  with  success  the  "  glorious  Gospel  of  the  blessed 
God." 

Mr.  Bradford  was  honoured  by  being  chosen  president  of 
the  conference  in  1803,  when  that  noble  class  of  ministers 
were  received  into  full  membership — a  galaxy  of  brilliant 
stars,  an  array  of  distinguished  names,  of  gifted  men,  such 
as  we  have  not  seen  before,  such  as,  I  fear,  we  shall  not  soon 
see  again — Robert  Newton,  Jabez  Bunting,  Daniel  Isaac, 
"William  E.  Millar,  Philip  Garrett,  Joseph  Hallam,  Thomas 
Pindar,  and  others,  who  were  mighty  men — men  of  renown. 
But  one  of  them  now  survives,  that  is  Jabez  Bunting ;  the 
rest  have  fallen  asleep. 

The  Rev.  James  Everett  thus  describes  him:  "Joseph 
Bradford  was  prompt,  energetic ;  Herculean  in  labour,  per- 
severing, fervid,  sterling;  somewhat  rambling  in  his  dis- 
courses ;  always  cutting  out  work  for  himself  and  others ; 
generally  closing  the  financial  part  of  a  leader's  meeting  with, 
'Well,  what  can  be  done  to  help  forward  the  good  cause 
in  which  we  are  engaged  V  A  strenuous  advocate  for  ex- 
emption from  all  moral  defilement,  saying,  'As  soon  may 
light  espouse  darkness,  as  soon  may  night  be  married  to  day, 
as  sin  and  holiness  dwell  together.'  Possessed,  rough  as 
he  was,  of  too  much  delicacy  of  sentiment  and  dignity  of 
character  to  watch  the  look  or  tremble  at  the  frown  of  a 
superior,  *  truth  and  justice,  the  two  immutable  laws  of 
social  as  well  as  religious  order,'  seeme4  to  be  his  motto, 

10 


THE  HEROES  OF  METHODISM. 


despising  the  maxim  that  it  is  sometimes  useful  to  mislead, 
to  insure  the  happiness  of  others." 

"Mr.  Bradford,"  says  the  biographer  of  Robert  Newton, 
"  was  a  man  of  unbending  integrity  and  of  kindly  disposition." 

Mr.  Bradford  was  honoured  also  by  being  the  chosen  friend 
and  travelling  companion  of  John  Wesley — "his  own 
familiar  friend,  that  did  eat  bread  with  him,"  who  was  ad- 
mitted into  the  closest  intimacy  and  fellowship. 


BRADFORD  AND  JOHN  WESLEY. 

Mr.  Bradford  was  for  some  years  the  travelling  companion 
of  Mr.  Wesley,  for  whom  he  would  have  sacrificed  health, 
and  even  life ;  but  to  whom  his  will  would  never  bend,  ex- 
cept in  meekness.  "Joseph,"  said  Mr.  Wesley,  one  day, 
"  take  these  lettei-s  to  the  post." 

Bradford.  I  will  take  them  after  preaching,  sir. 

Wesley.  Take  them  now,  Joseph. 

Brad,  I  wish  to  hear  you  preach,  sir,  and  there  will  be 
suflBcient  time  for  the  post  after  service. 

Wes.  I  insist  upon  your  going  now,  Joseph. 
Brad.  I  will  not  go  at  present. 

Wes.  You  wont  ? 
Brad.  No,  sir. 

Wes.  Then  you  and  I  must  part. 
Brad.  Very  good,  sir. 

The  good  men  slept  over  it.  Both  were  early  risers. 
At  four  o'clock  the  next  morning,  the  refractory  "  helper" 


JOSEPH  BRADFORD. 


218 


was  accosted  with,  "Joseph,  have  you  considered  what  I 
said,  that  we  must  part  ?" 

Brad,  Yes,  sir. 

Wes.  And  must  we  part  ? 

Brad.  Please  yourself,  sir. 

Wes.  Will  you  ask  my  pardon,  Joseph  ? 

Brad,  No,  sir. 

Wes.  You  wont  ? 

Brad.  No,  sir. 

Wes.  Then  I  will  ask  yours,  Joseph. 

Poor  Joseph  was  instantly  melted,  smitten  as  by  the  wand 
of  Moses,  when  forth  gushed  the  tears,  like  the  water  from 
the  rock.  He  had  a  tender  soul ;  and  it  was  soon  observed, 
when  the  appeal  was  made  to  the  heart  instead  of  the  head." 
— James  Everett. 

This  anecdote  has  been  incorrectly  attributed  to  the  Rev. 
Samuel  Bradburn.  Mr.  Bradburn  never  was  Mr.  Wesley's 
travelling  companion.  The  mistake  was  easily  made,  no 
doubt,  by  confounding  the  names  Bradford  and  Bradburn. 

BRADFORD  AND  MR.  WESLEY  AT  BRISTOL. 

At  the  Bristol  Conference,  in  1783,  Mr.  Wesley  was  taken 
very  ill ;  neither  he  nor  his  friends  thought  he  could  recover. 
From  the  nature  of  his  complaint,  he  supposed  a  spasm 
would  seize  his  stomach,  and,  probably,  occasion  sudden 
death.  Under  these  views  of  bis  situation,  he  said  to  Mr. 
Bradford,  "  I  have  been  reflecting  on  ray  past  life :  I  have 
been  wandering  up  and  down  between  fifty  and  sixty  years, 
endeavouring,  in  my  poor  way,  to  do  a  little  good  to  my 
fellow-creatures:  and  now  it  is  probable  that  there  are  but 
a  few  steps  between  me  and  death ;  and  what  have  I  to  trust 
to  for  salvation  ?  I  can  see  nothing  which  I  have  done  or 
suffered  that  will  bear  looking  at.  I  have  no  other  plea 
than  this, 

*  I  the  chief  of  sinners  am, 
But  Jesus  died  for  me.' " 


214  THE  HEROES  OF  METHODISM. 


The  sentiment  here  expressed,  and  his  reference  to  it  in  his 
last  sickness,  plainly  show  how  steadily  he  had  persevered  in 
the  same  views  of  the  Gospel.  Mr.  Bradford  was  highly 
favoured  in  hearing  this  declaration  from  the  founder  of 
Methodism,  under  circumstances  so  thrilling ;  but  greater 
honour  awaited  him.  He  was  permitted,  years  after,  to 
witness  the  calm,  peaceful,  and  triumphant  death  of  his 
venerable  and  venerated  friend.  "On  Wednesday  morn- 
innr  the  closinor  scene  drew  near.  Mr.  Bradford,  his  faithful 
friend,  prayed  with  him ;  and  the  last  words  he  was  heard 
to  articulate  were  *  Farewell ! ' " 

Mr.  Bradford  was  permitted  to  oflfer  the  last  prayer  at  the 
bedside  of  the  dying  Wesley,  and  then  watch  over  him, 

Till  the  '  weary  wheels  of  life  stood  still.' 

BEADFORD  AXD  LADY  HUNTINGTON. 

After  Mr.  Wesley's  death,  a  tract,  written  with  beautiful 
simplicity  by  his  friend  Elizabeth  Ritchie,  was  published, 
containing  the  interesting  particulars  of  his  last  illness,  with 
the  expressions  to  which  he  gave  utterance  in  the  immediate 
prospect  of  dissolution.  A  copy  of  this  document  fell  into 
the  hands  of  Lady  Huntington,  who  read  it  with  superior 
interest,  because,  according  to  the  natural  course  of  things, 
the  time  of  her  own  departure  was  at  hand.  She  sent 
for  Joseph  Bradford,  who  for  many  years  had  been  Mr. 
Wesley's  travelling  companion,  and  asked  him  if  this  account 
of  Mr.  Wesley  was  true ;  and  whether  he  really  died  ac- 
knowledging his  sole  dependence  upon  the  meritorious 
sacrifice  of  Christ  for  acceptance  and  eternal  life.  Mr.  Brad- 
ford assured  her  ladyship  that  the  whole  was  strictly  true ; 
and  that  from  his  own  knowledge  he  could  declare,  whatever 
reports  to  the  contrary  had  been  circulated,  the  principles 
which  Mr.  Wesley  recognised  upon  his  death-bed  had 
invariably  been  the  subjects  of  his  ministry.  She  listened 
with  eager  attention  to  this  statement;  confessed  that  she 


JOSEPH  BRADFOllD. 


^15 


believed  he  bad  grievously  departed  from  the  truth;  and 
then,  bursting  into  tears,  expressed  her  deep  regret  at  the 
separation  that  had  taken  place  between  them.  The 
particulars  of  this  interview  Mr.  Bradford  related  to  the 
Rev.  George  Morley." —  Jackson'' s  Life  of  Charles  Wesley^ 
p.  662. 

BRADFORD  AND  THE  ANGEL. 

"In  1778,"  says  the  Rev.  John  Murlin,  "there  was  a 
division  in  the  society  at  Halifax,  about  an  angel  with  a 
trumpet  in  his  hand,  which  one  party  would  have  fixed  on 
the  top  of  a  sounding-board,  over  the  pulpit,  but  the  other 
would  not  consent  to  it.  And  so  warm  were  they  on  each 
side,  that  the  circuit  preachers  could  not  reconcile  them ; 
so  the  affair  was  left  to  the  decision  of  Mr.  Wesley.  When 
he  came,  he  gave  judgment  against  the  angel;  and,  to  put 
an  end  to  all  future  strife,  Mr.  Bradford  made  a  burnt  sacri- 
fice of  the  angel  on  the  altar  of  peace  !  and  thus  the  apple 
of  discord  was  removed.  Is  it  not  strange  that  men  of 
common  sense,  and  who  profess  an  uncommon  degree  of 
rehgion,  should  contend  so  warmly  about  such  trifles  as 
these ?" 

BRADFORD,  WESLEY,  AND  THE  CHAISE. 

In  1785,  Mr.  Wesley,  with  Joseph  Bradford,  visited  Adam 
Clarke  on  St.  Austell  circuit.  Mr.  Clarke  relates  the  fol- 
lowing, which  took  place  during  their  visit.  I  was  with 
Mr.  Wesley  one  day,  when  his  chaise  was  not  at  the  door 
at  the  time  he  had  ordered  it ;  he  immediately  set  off  on 
foot,  and  I  accompanied  him:  it  was  not  long,  however, 
before  Mr.  Bradford  overtook  us  with  it.  Mr.  Wesley 
inquired,  "Joseph,  what  has  been  the  matter?" 

Mr.  B.  I  could  not  get  things  ready  any  sooner,  sir. 

Mr.  W.  You  should  have  urged  the  people  to  it. 


216 


THE  HEROES  OF  METHODISM. 


Mr.  B.  I  spoke  to  them  to  be  in  readiness,  sir,  no  less 
than  nineteen  times. 

Mr.  W.,  (pleasantly.)  You  lost  it,  you  blockhead,  for  want 
of  the  tiventieth  I  thus  giving  Joseph  and  his  young  friend 
a 'gentle  hint  on  the  propriety  of  perseverance. 

Mr.  Everett,  to  whom  Dr.  Clarke  related  the  above  anec- 
dote, told  it  to  the  poet,  James  Montgomery,  Esq.,  of  Sheffield, 
who  remarked  that  "Mr.  Wesley's  punctuality  was  very  likely 
the  result  of  early  instruction ;  and,  in  all  probability,  he 
carried  up  from  his  childhood  the  recollection  of  a  similar 
case.  His  mother  had  one  of  the  children  before  her  one 
day,  who  was  very  slow  at  learning.  Her  husband  came  in, 
and  said,  'Why  do  you  sit  there,  my  dear,  telling  that  dull 
child  a  thing  twenty  times  over?'  'Because,'  replied  Mrs. 
Wesley,  '  the  nineteenth  is  not  enough.' " 


REV.  JOHN  EASTER. 


THE  REV.  JOHN  EASTER. 


The  Rev.  John  Easter  joined  the  travelling  connexion  in 
1782,  and  located  in  1792.  Ten  short  years  in  the  itinerant 
work,  and  his  name  disappears.  We  know  but  little  of  this 
"  son  of  thunder,"  and  that  little  makes  us  anxious  to  know 
more.  His  ministerial  career  was  short  but  brilliant;  his 
success  was  almost  unparalleled.  His  name  is  embalmed  in 
the  memory  of  the  Church ;  he  is  enrolled  among  her  dis- 
tinguished heroes.  On  Brunswick  circuit,  Virginia,  eighteen 
hundred  were  added  to  the  Church  under  his  labours  in  one 
year.  This  mighty  ingathering  of  souls  occurred  in  1*787. 
What  Pentecostal  scenes  he  must  have  witnessed !  what  a 
memorable  time !  What  will  the  records  of  eternity  show  in 
regard  to  that  never-to-be-forgotten  year?  The  Rev.  Thomas 
L.  Douglass  speaks  of  Mr.  Easter  thus : 

"  In  the  year  1787  the  Rev.  John  Easter,  a  man  of  great 
faith  and  power,  was  appointed  to  Brunswick  circuit,  which 
at  that  time  included  Greensville  county,  where  the  father 
of  Bishop  M'Kendree  lived;  and  his  labours  being  greatly 
blessed,  an  uncommon  revival  of  vital  religion  took  place, 
in  which  some  thousands  professed  to  find  peace  with  God, 
in  that  and  the  adjoining  circuits.  Mr.  M'Kendree  and  his 
family,  although  favourably  disposed  toward  religion,  had 
hitherto  lived  without  a  knowledge  of  its  comforts;  but, 
under  the  impressive  and  convincing  ministry  of  this  man  of 
God,  Mr.  M'Kendree,  his  wife,  and  several  of  his  children, 
were  happily  converted  to  God." 

"  The  facts  which  have  come  down  to  our  times,"  says  the 
author  of  the  Life  and  Times  of  Jesse  Lee,  "  of  the  almost 
10* 


220  THE  HEROES  OF  METHODISM. 

miraculous  labours  of  the  Rev.  John  Easter,  his  strong  faith, 
and  his  astonishing  success,  are  far  more  surprising  than  any 
of  those  recorded  in  the  days  of  the  Son  of  man.  But  we 
may  not  detail  them.  Yet  respecting  the  character  of  the 
work,  it  ought  to  be  said  that  convictions  for  sin  were  sudden 
and  strong.  The  whole  moral  nature  was  wrought  upon  by 
deep  and  powerful  emotions,  that  found  expression  in  con- 
fession of  sin,  and  in  cries  for  mercy.  And  conversions  were 
no  less  sudden  and  powerful.  Supplications  for  pardon  were 
quickly  succeeded  by  songs  of  rejoicing  and  shouts  of  tri- 
umph. Many  who  came  to  the  house  of  God  careless  and 
scoffing,  returned  clothed  and  in  their  right  minds,  with  new 
joy  in  their  hearts  and  a  new  pathway  for  their  feet.  The 
change  was  wrought  by  the  power  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  and 
its  genuineness  received  a  thousand  attestations  in  the  altered 
lives,  persevering  fidelity,  and  increasing  holiness  of  those 
who,  in  that  gracious  effusion  of  the  Spirit,  were  brought 
from  darkness  into  light,  and  from  the  power  of  Satan  unto 
God." 

Father  Boehra  says :  "  I  have  heard  Bishop  M'Kendree 
sj)eak  of  John  Easter  in  the  highest  terms,  and  with  filial 
affection,  as  a  son  reverences  his  father,  as  a  man,  and  as  a 
successful  minister.  I  travelled  over  the  ground  where  Mr. 
Easter  formerly  preached,  and  his  name  and  works  were  still 
remembered.  I  conversed  with  a  number  who  knew  him 
personally  and  intimately,  and  they  spoke  of  him  with  pro- 
found respect  and  veneration." 

John  Easter  died  a  number  of  years  ago  in  Virginia,  hav- 
ing held  forth  his  integrity  until  the  end.    Nor  did 

"  his  faith  forsake  its  hold, 
Nor  hope  decline,  nor  love  grow  cold." 

Mr.  Easter  left  one  son,  whose  name  was  Ira.  He  was  a 
very  useful  local  preacher  for  some  years,  and  afterward  be- 
came a  Protestant  Episcopal  clergyman,  and  was  pastor  of  a 
Church  near  Baltimore,  Maryland.    He  died  in  Baltimore  a 


JOHN  EASTER.  221 

few  years  ago,  leaving  an  only  son,  a  young  man  of  much 
promise,  who  was  an  engineer.  He  was  suddenly  killed, 
and  thus  that  family  of  Easters  ceased  to  exist. 


EASTER,  M'KENDREE,  AND  GEORGE. 

Among  the  distinguished  converts  of  that  year  (ITS'?)  was 
William  M'Kendree.  He  became  seriously  alarmed  for  the 
salvation  of  his  soul.  His  own  account  of  it  will  be  most 
acceptable  to  the  reader :  "  My  convictions  were  renewed ; 
they  were  deep  and  pungent.  The  great  deep  of  the  heart 
was  broken  up ;  its  deceit  and  desperately  wicked  nature 
were  disclosed,  and  the  awful,  the  eternally  ruinous  con- 
sequences clearly  appeared.  My  repentance  was  sincere ; 
I  became  willing,  and  was  desirous  to  be  saved  on  any  terms. 
After  a  sore  and  sorrowful  travail  of  three  days,  which  were 
employed  in  hearing  Mr.  Easter,  and  in  fasting  and  prayer — 
while  the  man  of  God  was  showing  a  large  congregation  the 
way  of  salvation  by  faith,  with  a  clearness  which  at  once  as- 
tonished and  encouraged  me — I  ventured  my  all  upon  Christ.  ♦ 
In  a  moment  my  soul  was  relieved  of  a  burden  too  heavy 
to  be  borne,  and  joy  instantly  succeeded  sorrow." 

Mr.  M'Kendree  felt  that  this  "  glorious  Gospel  of  the  blessed 
God  was  committed  to  his  trust the  awful  responsibility 
made  him  hesitate.  So  he  visited  and  consulted  his  spiritual 
father,  Mr.  Easter.  Mr.  Easter  not  only  gave  him  good  advice, 
but  took  M'Kendree  on  the  circuit,  and  he  travelled  with  him 
some  time.    M'Kendree  hesitated,  became  discouraged,  re- 


222 


THE  HEROES  OF  METHODISM. 


turned  home,  and  resolved  to  abandon  the  work  of  the 
ministry ;  but  the  "  Woe  is  me,  if  I  preach  not  the  Gospel," 
so  pressed  upon  him,  that  he  offered  himself  to  the  Vir- 
ginia Conference,  and  was  received  in  1788.  Could  Mr. 
Easter  have  seen  the  future  character  and  history  of  William 
M'Kendree  when  he  received  him  into  the  Church,  what 
would  have  been  his  feelings?  He  also  received  into  the 
bosom  of  the  Church  Enoch  George,  who  also  became  a 
bishop  in  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  No  other  min- 
ister has  been  thus  honoured,  in  receiving  two  persons  into 
the  Church  who  afterward  became  its  superintendents. 
This  distinguished  honour  belongs  to  John  Easter  alone.  If 
nothing  more  was  known  concerning  him,  this  should  give 
him  an  immortality  :  the  spiritual  father  of  the  eloquent 
M'Kendree  and  the  pathetic  George,  two  of  the  purest  spirits 
that  ever  adorned  the  Church  or  blessed  the  world !  Long 
since  Easter,  M'Kendree.  and  George  have  met 

Where  saints  of  all  ages  in  harmony  meet, 
Their  Saviour  and  brethren  transported  to  greet ; 
While  anthems  of  rapture  unceasingly  roll, 
And  the  smile  of  the  Lord  is  the  feast  of  the  souL" 


JOHN  EASTER  AND  JESSE  LEE. 

So  little  is  known  of  this  distinguished  servant  of  God,  that 
we  gladly  avail  ourselves  of  any  scraps  or  fragments  we  can 
find,  and  are  as  careful  to  preserve  them  as  we  would  gold- 
dust  ;  for,  however  small  the  particles,  it  is  gold.  J  esse  Lee,  in 
his  Journal,  speaks  of  Mr.  Easter.  He  first  saw  him  in  July, 
1783  :  "  In  Warren  county  I  met  with  John  Easter."  The 
next  day  they  went  to  Halifax  county,  where  John  Easter 
"  preached  a  profitable  sermon."  They  continued  together 
several  days,  going  from  place  to  place  preaching  the  word. 
Mr.  Lee  says :  "  We  had  a  good  deal  of  life  among  us  at  these 


JOHN  EASTER. 


228 


meetings."  The  next  month  (August)  "they  met  at  a 
quarterly  meeting,  at  the  Tabernacle,  on  Roanoak  circuit. 
Mr.  Lee  preached,  then  James  O'Kelley  and  John  Easter 
exhorted."  Mr.  Lee  says:  "The  love-feast  was  lively.  It 
was,  indeed,  a  day  of  the  Lord's  power,  and  many  were 
converted;  one  was  converted  that  day  who  afterward  be- 
came a  travelling  preacher."  This  young  man  was  Mark 
Moore,  who  entered  the  itinerancy  in  1Y86,  and  located  in 
1799. 


EASTER  AND  REV.  STITH  MEAD. 

These  were  holy  men,  "full  of  faith  and  the  Holy  Ghost." 
A  volume  might  be  written  of  their  mighty  deeds  in  win- 
ning souls  to  Christ.  The  latter  was  greatly  blessed  as  an 
agent  or  instrument  in  the  conversion  of  sinners.  Wher- 
ever he  went,  wherever  he  preached,  the  word  was  blessed. 
The  writer  knew  him  when  "  in  age  and  feebleness  extreme 
and  even  then  he  was  honoured  of  God  in  saving  souls.  He 
was  simple  and  sincere  of  heart;  took  God's  word  as  a  living 
and  powerful  agent  of  the  almighty  Spirit,  and  preached  it 
in  full  assurance  of  faith,  both  as  to  its  truth  and  efficiency ; 
and  it  was  not  in  vain.  Sinners  were  cut  to  the  heart, 
mourners  in  Zion  were  comforted,  and  believers  were  edified 
and  blessed.  Mr.  Mead  joined  the  conference  in  1792,  and 
died  in  1836.  The  former  was  distinguished  for  his  strong, 
unwavering  faith,  and  also  for  his  ministerial  success. 

On  the  last  day  of  October,  1*798,  a  meeting  was  held  at 
Paup's  meeting-house,  Brunswick  county,  Virginia.  Bishop 
Asbury  preached  a  "good  discourse,"  Jesse  Lee  exhorted, 
and  the  power  of  the  Lord  was  present  among  them.  Many 
wept,  and  some  cried  aloud  with  deep  distress.  After  the 
congregation  was  dismissed,  the  class-meeting  was  held. 
The  Rev.  Stith  Mead  then  began  to  sing,  and  in  a  little 
while  many  were  affected,  and  there  was  a  general  weeping 


224 


THE  HEROES  OF  METHODISM. 


in  the  house.  At  this  stage  of  the  meeting,  the  Rev. 
John  Easter  proclaimed  aloud,  "  I  have  not  a  doubt  in  my 
soul  but  God  will  convert  a  soul  to-day."  The  preachers 
then  requested  all  that  were  under  conviction  to  come 
together.  Several  men  and  women  came  and  fell  on  their 
knees ;  and  the  preachers  for  some  time  kept  singing,  and 
exhorting  the  mourners  to  expect  a  blessing  from  the  Lord, 
till  the  cries  of  the  mourners  became  truly  awful.  Then 
prayer  was  made  in  their  behalf,  and  two  or  three  found 
peace. — Life  of  Jesse  Lee. 


EASTER  AND  TH^:  THUNDER-STORM. 


John  Easter  was  a  wonder  to  many  for  the  childlike  trust 
of  his  belief  in  "  every  word  of  God."  The  Gospel  was 
God's  voice  of  mercy  and  grace,  and  the  Bible  the  words  of 
its  utterance  to  men.  Faith  had  no  mystery  in  it  to  him, 
beyond  the  mere  exercise  of  power.  What  he  wanted,  he 
asked  of  God.  Answers  to  prayer  are  promised.  He  al- 
ways expected  its  fulfilment  in  the  things  he  asked.  The 
following  incident  will  serve  to  show  his  faith,  and  illustrate 
the  doctrine  of  asking  in  faith  :  He  was  preaching  once  to  a 
large  crowd  in  the  open  air.  In  the  midst  of  his  discourse 
a  storm  arose.  A  dark  and  fearful  cloud,  vivid  with  forked 
lightning,  and  vocal  with  harsh  thunder,  "  muttering  sounds 
of  sullen  wrath,"  and  driven  by  a  mighty  wind,  was  hurry- 
ing furiously  over  the  congregation.  Consternation  sat  on 
every  face,  and  fear  filled  every  heart.  The  storm  waxed 
louder  and  more  appalling  ;  and  the  panic-struck  assembly 
started  to  their  feet,  to  seek  safety  in  flight.  Just  at  this 
moment  the  preacher  fell  on  his  knees,  lifted  his  hands,  and 
implored  God  to  turn  aside  the  storm,  and  not  allow  it  to 
prevent  the  people  from  hearing  the  words  of  life  and  salvation. 
Coincident  with  the  prayer,  as  multitudes  attest,  the  clouds 
parted  right  and  left,  leaving  a  clear  sky  over  the  worshippers, 


JOHN  EASTER. 


225 


and  deluging  the  neighbouring  fields  with  floods  of  water. 
This  is  one  instance  of  many,  related  by  survivors  of  his 
ministry,  of  the  public  answers  God  mercifully  vouchsafed  to 
the  prayers  of  his  f^iithful  servant.  This  answer  to  prayer 
and  faith  is  related  upon  the  authority  of  many  intelligent 
and  pious  men,  who  were  present  on  the  occasion,  and  who 
assured  the  writer  that  all  the  circumstances  left  a  clear  con- 
viction of  a  divine  interposition,  in  answer  to  prayer,  upon 
the  vast  and  awe-struck  assembly.  Kindred  facts,  in  great 
number  and  variety,  might  be  collected  from  our  earlier  his- 
tory, to  illustrate  the  Scriptural,  God-honouring  faith  of  our 
fathers. — Life  of  Jesse  Lee. 

EASTER  AND  THE  ENRAGED  HUSBAND,  AND  HIS 
COURAGEOUS  WIFE. 

The  Rev.  Thomas  Ware  relates  the  following  thrilling  inci- 
dent. It  is  full  of  romance ;  but  it  is  not  the  romance  of 
fiction,  but  of  real  life.  It  is  full  of  poetry — the  poetry 
of  truth.  In  reading,  we  shall  see  that  there  were  heroines 
in  those  days  as  well  as  "heroes;"  women  of  nerve,  of 
decision,  of  courage,  whose  noble  deeds  are  worthy  of  all 
praise.  "  Many  daughters  have  done  virtuously,"  but  they 
seem  to  have  excelled  them  all : 

"  A  sister  Jones,  of  Mecklenburgh,  Virginia,  had  to  pass 
through  fiery  trials.  She  was  a  woman  of  superior  gifts  as 
well  as  grace ;  and  her  courage  and  perseverance  in  the  ser- 
vice of  the  Lord  constrained  all  who  knew  her  to  acknowledge 
her  deep  sincerity.  Her  husband  cherished  the  most  bitter 
and  inveterate  prejudice  against  the  Methodists ;  and,  being 
naturally  a  man  of  violent  passions,  and  a  most  ungoverna- 
ble temper,  he,  by  his  threats,  deterred  her,  for  a  time,  from 
joining  them.  Nor  did  he  stop  here,  but  positively  forbade 
her  going  to  hear  them.  Soon  after  this  Mr.  Easter,  a  man 
remarkably  owned  of  God,  and  a  favourite  preacher  of  Mrs. 
Jones,  was  to  preach  in  the  neighbourhood.    Mrs.  Jones  told 


226 


THE  HEROES  OF  METHODISM. 


her  husband  she  believed  it  to  be  a  duty  which  she  owed 
to  God  and  herself,  to  go  and  hear  Mr.  Easter,  and 
begged  his  permissioo;  but  he  refused.  She  then  said 
she  should  be  compelled,  from  a  sense  of  obligation  to  a 
higher  power,  to  disobey  his  command.  At  this  he  became 
enraged,  and,  in  his  fury,  swore  if  she  did,  he  would 
charge  his  gun  and  shoot  her  when  she  returned ;  but  this 
tremendous  threat  did  not  deter  her.  During  preaching 
she  was  remarkably  blessed  and  strengthened ;  and,  on  her 
return,  met  her  infuriated  husband  at  the  door,  with  his  gun 
in  hand.  She  accosted  him  mildly,  and  said,  'My  dear, 
if  you  take  my  life,  you  must  obtain  leave  of  my  heavenly 
Spouse;'  and,  thus  saying,  approached  him  and  took  the 
deadly  weapon  out  of  his  hand,  without  meeting  any 
resistance.  This  virulent  temper  God  in  due  time  softened 
and  subdued,  so  that  the  tiger  became  a  lamb.  When  on 
my  way  to  my  first  quarterly  meeting  in  Mecklenburg,  in 
this  distnct,  I  called  on  Mr.  Jones,  and  had  the  whole  his- 
tory of  this  transaction  from  the  parties  themselves,  who, 
now  united  with  one  heart  in  the  service  of  God,  accom- 
panied me  to  the  meeting. 


REY.  JESSE  LEE. 


THE  REV.  JESSE  LEE. 


The  Rev.  Jesse  Lee  was  born  in  Virginia  in  1758.  At 
the  age  of  fifteen  he  responded  to  the  call  of  Heaven, 
"My  son,  give  me  thine  heart."  Soon  after  he  identified 
himself  with  the  Methodists,  and  was  appointed  class-leadei*, 
then  exhorter,  and  afterward  preacher.  He  was  admitted 
into  the  travelHng  connexion  in  Virginia,  lYSS,  and  accom- 
panied Bishop  Asbury  on  a  tour  to  South  Carolina  in  1785. 

Here  Mr.  Lee  became  acquainted  with  a  young  man 
from  New-England,  who  gave  him  such  a  description 
of  that  people  as  to  excite  in  his  bosom  an  irrepressible 
desire  to  be  a  herald  of  a  full,;*free,  and  present  salvation 
to  them.  He  mentioned  it  to  Mr.  Asbury.  The  desire 
continued  to  burn  in  his  bosom  till  a  few  years  after,  when 
he  was  gratified.  Mr.  Lee's  name  will  ever  be  remem- 
bered with  gratitude,  as  the  pioneer  of  Methodism  in  the 
eastern  states,  as  its  apostle  in  New-England.  He  planted 
the  tree  there  which  has  taken  deep  root,  and  extended  its 
branches  until  thousands  now  refresh  themselves  under  its 
shade,  and  partake  of  its  delicious  fruits ;  while  its  leaf  does 
not  wither,  but  continues  as  green  as  those  on  the  tree 
planted  by  the  river  of  waters.  He  was  a  superior  man, 
largely  endowed  by  nature  both  in  bodily  and  mental 
power. 

Mr.  Lee  was  a  man  of  excellent  talents  as  a  preacher ;  his 
discourses  exhibited  ingenuity  and  variety.  He  especially 
understood  the  power  of  illustration.  Mr.  Lee  was  one  of 
Bishop  Asbury's  first  travelling  companions.  He  was^the  first 
Methodist  minister  elected  chaplain  to  Congress;  and,  to 


230 


THE  HEROES  OF  METHODISM. 


show  the  estimation  in  which  he  was  held,  he  was  elected  six 
successive  terms.  Since  then,  Nicholas  Snethen,  H.  B.  Bas- 
com,  George  Cookman,  Henry  Sheer,  and  several  other 
Methodist  preachers,  have  been  elected  to  the  same  office. 

Mr.  Lee  was  a  man  of  superior  wit ;  he  knew  how  "  to 
answer  a  fool  according  to  his  folly."  There  is  a  vast  dif- 
ference between  pure  native  wit — as  sharp  as  a  razor,  as  keen 
as  a  briar — and  buftbonery :  they  have  no  affinity.  There  is 
as  much  diflference  as  there  is  between  pinchbeck  and  gold. 
Mr.  Lee  made  his  wit  profitable  to  promote  truth,  to  defend 
himself,  and  also  to  silence  and  abash  the  opposers  of 
religion  and  the  advocates  of  error.  Should  he  have  used  it 
or  not?  It  is  possible  that  he  sometimes  went  beyond 
the  bounds  of  prudence;  but  there  can  be  no  doubt  that 
his  wit  aided  him  much  in  the  peculiar  work  he  was  called 
to  perform. 

His  last  station  was  Annapolis,  Maryland.  He  attended  a 
camp-meeting  on  the  eastern  shore  of  Maryland  in  Septem- 
ber, 1816,  and  was  taken  sick,  and  died  there.  Rev.  Henry 
Boehm  was  presiding  elder  on  that  district,  and  remained 
with  Mr.  Lee — ministering  to  his  wants,  smoothing  his  pil- 
low of  agony,  wetting  his  parched  lips — till  his  great  soul 
left  his  suffering  body ;  the  one  to  return  to  dust,  the  other 
to  God.  I  have  often  heard  my  venerable  friend  describe 
the  dying  scene.  The  room  where  the  patient  sufferer  lay 
was  filled  with  ghry.  The  sick  and  dying  man  was  not  only 
patient,  but  cheerful  and  happy.  The  same  degree  of 
pleasantry  and  the  same  spiritual  wit  he  manifested  during 
his  last  illness;  though  father  Boehm  thinks  there  was 
nothing  like  levity  in  Jesse  Lee,  but  remarkable  shrewdness, 
the  sharpest  irony,  and  the  keenest  wit.  His  death  was 
honourable  to  the  religion  he  so  long  professed  ;  his  last 
hours  were  not  only  peaceful,  but  triumphant.  Frequently 
he  shouted,  "  Glory  !  glory  !  glory  I  Hallelujah  !  Hallelu- 
jah !    ,lesus  reigns  I" 

His  remains  were  interred  in  the  old  Methodist  burying- 


JESSE  LEE. 


231 


ground  m  Baltimore.  On  his  plain  marble  tombstone  is 
inscribed  the  following : 

EST  MEMORY  OP 

THE  REV.  JESSE  LEE. 
Born  iu  Prince  George's  county,  Virginia,  1758,  and 
Entered  the  itinerant  ministry  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church 
1783,  and  departed  this  life  September,  1816, 
Aged  58  years. 

A  man  of  ardent  zeal  and  great  ability  as  a  minister  of  Christ ; 

His  labours  were  abundantly  owned  of  God, 
Especially  in  the  New-England  states,  in  which  he  was  truly  the 
Apostle  of  American  Methodism. 

Those  who  wish  to  learn  more  of  him  can  read  "  The  Life 
and  Times  of  Rev.  Jesse  Lee,"  by  his  nephew,  Leroy  M.  Lee ; 
or  Dr.  Bangs's  "  History  of  the  M.  E.  Church ;"  or  "  Memorials 
of  Methodism,"  by  Rev.  Abel  Stevens.  To  the  former  of 
these  I  am  indebted,  as  well  as  to  several  other  sources,  for  a 
number  of  the  anecdotes  and  incidents  recorded  here,  that  I 
have  no  doubt  the  reader  will  peruse  with  pleasure  and  profit, 
sometimes  smiling,  and  then,  again,  dropping  a  tear,  over 
something  that  will  touch  the  springs  of  the  soul. 


LEE  ENLISTED  BY  BISHOP  ASBURY. 

Jesse  Lee  attended  the  Conference  which  began  at  Ellis*s 
Chapel,  Virginia,  April  30th,  and  ended  in  Baltimore, 
Maiyland,  May  28th,  1784.  As  a  spectator,  he  witnessed 
its  proceedings  with  thrilling  interest.  He  says,  "At  the 
close  of  the  Conference  Mr.  Asbury  came  to  me,  and  asked 


232 


THE  HEROES  OF  METHODISM. 


me  if  I  was  willing  to  take  a  circuit ;  I  told  him  I  could  not 
well  do  it,  but  signified  I  was  at  a  loss  to  know  what  was 
best  for  me  to  do.  I  was  afraid  of  hurting  the  cause  which 
I  washed  to  promote,  for  I  was  very  sensible  of  my  own 
weakness ;  at  last  he  called  to  some  of  the  preachers  stand- 
ing in  the  yard,  a  little  way  off,  and  said,  'I  am  going  to  enlist 
brother  Lee.'  One  of  them  replied,  '  What  bounty  do  you 
give  V  He  answered,  '  Grace  here,  and  glory  hereafter,  will 
be  given,  if  he  is  faithful.' " 


LEE  AND  THE  NON-COMMITTAL  QUAKER. 

Travelling  in  Virginia  with  his  colleague.  Rev.  Mr.  Drum- 
goole,  they  met  with  a  very  inhospitable  reception  at  th( 
close  of  the  first  day's  journey.  At  a  late  hour  in  the  even- 
ing they  stopped  at  the  house  of  a  Quaker,  and  asked  per- 
mission to  remain  all  night.  He  neither  consented  nor 
refused,  but  said,  "If  you  choose  to  get  down,  I  will  not  turn 
you  away." 

They  knew  not  whether  to  go  in  or  not,  as  he  had  neither 
granted  them  permission  to  stay  nor  denied  their  request. 
However,  as  the  night  was  dark,  and  they  were  strangers,  and 
as  there  were  no  public  houses  in  that  part  of  the  country, 
they  entered  the  house,  and,  notwithstanding  the  cold  re- 
ception, tried  to  make  themselves  welcome.  They  were 
surprised  and  gratified  with  their  hospitable  entertainment. 
When  they  were  about  retiring  to  rest  they  proposed  family 
prayer.  Here  the  Quaker  was  non-committal  again.  He 
neither  expressed  approval  nor  disapprobation  ;  but  said,  "  If 
you  have  a  mind  to  pray,  I  will  leave  the  room."  He  did 
so,  and  shut  the  door,  and  left  them  to  perform  their  evening 
devotions  as  they  saw  best. 


238 


LEE  AND  HIS  LOST  HAT. 

Mr.  Lee  and  several  ministers  were  once  fording  a  river 
somewhat  swollen.  He  had  on  a  new  hat.  A  flaw  of 
wind  suddenly  drove  his  hat  into  the  river,  and  the  current 
rapidly  bore  it  away.  He  checked  his  horse,  and  silently 
watched  its  course.  On,  on  it  went.  Turning  a  rueful  face 
to  one  of  the  brethren,  he  said :  "  It  is  written,  '  All  things 
work  together  for  good  to  them  that  love  God.'  I  am  sure 
I  love  God ;  but,"  sending  a  longing  look  after  his  hat,  he 
added,  "  how  that  is  to  work  for  my  good,  I  am  at  a  loss  to 
perceive."  The  hat  had  gone  down  the  stream,  and  disap- 
peared, and  hatless  he  was  obliged  to  pursue  his  journey. 

LEE,  ASBURY,  AND  THE  SUPERINTENDENT  OF  A 
BALL. 

Bishop  Asbury  and  Mr.  Lee  reached  Georgetown  on  the 
23d  of  February,  1*785.  Mr.  Asbury  preached  the  next  even- 
ing to  a  large  and  attentive  audience.  As  they  were  leaving, 
to  go  to  the  place  of  worship,  the  gentleman  at  whose  house 
they  were  putting  np  wished  to  be  excused  from  going  with 
them,  "  as  it  was  his  turn  to  superintend  a  ball  that  night." 
Mr.  Lee  says,  "  He  had  been  praying  earnestly,  that  if  the 
Lord  had  sent  him  to  that  place,  he  would  open  the  heart  and 
house  of  some  other  person  to  receive  them."  Heaven  heard 
and  answered  his  prayer;  for  after  meeting,  Mr.  Wayne, 
a  nephew  of  the  celebrated  general,  Anthony  Wayne,  invited 
them  to  call  upon  him ;  and  from  that  time  his  house  became 
a  home  for  the  ministers.  They  took  breakfast  with  him 
the  next  morning ;  he  accompanied  them  to  the  river,  and 
paid,  their  ferriage.  He  also  gave  the  Rev.  Henry  Willis  a 
letter  of  introduction  46  3om^  j^6ntls.iien  at  Charl-s^t^n,  ^'hic^h 
secured  for  the  Methodist  preachers  a  coMih'r  recejieionf  in 
that  city. 


234  THE  HEROES  OF  METHODISM. 


LEE  AND  THE  CALVINISTIC  MINISTER. 

Mr.  Lee  travelled  Flanders  circuit,  in  New-Jersey,  where 
there  were  many  Calvinists.  He  went  to  hear  a  Calvinistic 
minister  preach,  and  took  his  seat  in  the  congregation  in 
front  of  the  pulpit.  The  clergyman  read  for  his  text,  "  Thy 
people  shall  be  made  willing  in  the  days  of  thy  power," 
Psa.  cx,  3.  Mr.  Lee  did  not  beHeve  in  adding  to  or  dimin- 
ishing from  God's  word.  He  was  exceedingly  uneasy. 
The  minister  read  his  text  the  second  time—slowly,  dis- 
tinctly, solemnly — placing  the  emphasis  on  the  word  "  madeP 
Mr.  Lee's  righteous  soul  was  stirred  within  him.  Quick 
as  thought  he  arose,  and,  addressing  the  preacher  in  a 
respectful  manner,  inquired,  "My  dear  sir,  have  you  not 
mistaken  the  text?"  The  minister,  very  much  surprised, 
replied  that  he  had  not.  "Will  you  please  to  read  it 
again  ?"  said  Mr.  Lee.  He  read  it  again,  and  in  the  same 
way.  "Are  you  quite  sure  you  read  it  right again 
asked  Mr.  Lee.  "  Quite  certain  of  it,"  was  the  cool  reply. 
"Well,  that's  very  singular;  it  don't  read  so  in  my  Bible,"- 
said  the  Methodist  lover  of  free  will  and  free  grace,  holding 
up  a  small  pocket  Bible  toward  the  pulpit,  and  asking, 
"  Will  you  be  good  enough  to  read  it  once  more,  and  see  if 
the  word  made  is  in  the  text?"  He  commenced  reading 
slowly  and  surely:  "Thy — people — shall — be;"  he  made  a 
solemn  pause,  looking  earnestly  at  the  words,  and  read 
again :  "  *  Thy  people  shall  be  willing  in  the  day  of  thy 
power.'  True  enough,  there  is  no  such  word  in  the  text." 
Mr.  Lee  sat  down.  The  people  saw  and  felt  the  force  of 
his  criticism.  But  the  minister  could  not  see  how  God's 
people  could  be  willing  unless  they  were  made  so  by  an  ir- 
resistible grace ;  and  he  preached  the  doctrine — the  text  to 
the  contrary  notwithstaiiding. 

It  is  a  matter  of  surprise  that  to  this  day  that  text  is 
frequently  quoted  in  the  same  way,  "  shall  be  made  willing,'* 


235 


as  if  it  were  possible  for  the  Infinite  to  make  the  finite  willing. 
I  may  make  my  child  obey  me,  but  I  cannot  make  him  willing. 
The  will  must  be  free,  or  it  is  no  will  at  all.  "Ye  will 
not  come  unto  me  (says  Jesus)  that  ye  might  have  life." 
Again,  "  How  oft  would  I  have  gathered  you,"  &c.,  but 
ye  would  not." 

What  makes  this  misquotation  still  more  astonishing  is, 
that  there  is  not  only  no  made  in  the  text,  but  no  "  shall  be 
for  these  are  in  italics,  having  been  supplied  by  the  transla- 
tors. If  the  doctrine  of  irresistible  grace  is  true,  in  opposition 
to  the  freedom  of  the  will,  it  must  find  its  proof  somewhere 
else  besides  this  text. 

LEE'S  KEPLY  TO  THE  MEN  WHO  WISHED  TO  KNOW  IF 
HE  HAD  A  LIBERAL  EDUCATION. 

Mr.  Lee  asked  permission  at  Fairfield,  Connecticut,  to 
preach  in  the  court-house.  Two  persons,  to  whom  he 
applied,  inquired  if  he  had  a  liberal  education.  With 
characteristic  shrewdness,  he  replied  that  "he  had  nothing 
to  boast  of,  though  he  believed  he  had  enough  to  carry  him 
through  the  country."  He  was  permitted  to  preach  in  the 
court-house.  "At  length,"  he  says,  "the  schoolmaster  and 
three  or  four  women  came.  I  began  to  sing,  and  in  a  little 
time  thirty  or  forty  collected."  He  preached  from  Romans 
vi,  23  :  "For  the  wages  of  sin  is  death :  but  the  gift  of  God 
is  eternal  life,  through  Jesus  Christ  our  Lord."  A  deep 
solemnity  sat  on  the  faces  of  the  people,  and  they  were 
ready  to  say,  "  We  never  heard  it  after  this  fashion." 

Fairfield  is  a  beautiful  place,  on  the  Long  Island  Sound, 
four  miles  from  Bridgeport.  I  have  had  the  honour  of 
preaching  in  the  venerable  old  court-house,  that  stands 
on  the  green,  in  the  centre  of  the  town.  A  new  church 
edifice  was  erected  in  Fairfield  through  the  indefatigable 
labours  of  Rev.  Anson  F.  Beach,  who  now  rests  from  his 
toils.    In  November,  1843,  it  was  dedicated  to  the  service 


236 


THE  HEROES  OF  METHODISM. 


of  Almighty  God,  Rev,  Francis  Hodgson  preaching  in  the 
morning,  Rev.  J.  B.  Wakeley  in  the  afternoon,  and  Rev.  J.  L. 
Gilder  in  the  evening.  It  was  a  great  day  for  the  Method- 
ists in  Fairfield.  Several  of  the  ministers  who  were  present 
on  that  occasion  now  rest  in  Abraham's  bosom :  the  be- 
loved pastor  of  the  church,  whom  I  have  named ;  also  the 
presiding  elder  of  the  district.  Rev.  Charles  Carpenter,  a  man 
w^ho  possessed  a  "  meek  and  quiet  spirit,  which  in  the  sight 
of  God  is  of  great  price,"  and  Rev.  Daniel  Smith,  of  precious 
memory,  who  was  then  stationed  in  Stratford.  The  Meth- 
odists have  built  a  neat  and  beautiful  church  in  Southport, 
in  Fairfield  town,  and  about  two  miles  from  the  centre. 
This  is  a  much  larger  and  more  prosperous  society  than  the 
first-named.  How  the  great  soul  of  Jesse  Lee,  the  pioneer 
of  Methodism,  would  rejoice,  if  he  could  return  and  witness 
the  change  since  he  first  went  there — without  a  patron,  with- 
out a  friend,  without  a  guide,  without  a  letter  of  introduction 
— alone  sowing  the  seed  of  truth,  which  has  produced  so 
great  a  harvest !  Those  villages  into  which  he  first  entered, 
where  Methodism  was  unknown — all  along  the  shore  of  the 
Long  Island  Sound,  as  well  as  in  the  interior — are  studded 
with  beautiful  temples,  in  which  is  preached  a  free,  full,  and 
present  salvation ! 


LEE  AND   HIS   CO-LABOURERS   OPPOSED  IN 
KEW-ENGLAND. 

Tlie  pious  ministers  of  Xew-England  were  alarmed  at  the 
appearance  of  the  Methodist  preachers ;  and  they  cautioned 
their  flocks  against  them  as  "wolves  in  sheep's  clothing." 
One  of  them  sent  out  the  note  of  warning,  declai-ing  that 
there  were  "six  hundred  Methodist  preachers  going  through 
the  country,  preaching  damnable  doctrines,  and  picking 
men's  pockets!''' 


JESSE  LEE. 


237 


LEE'S  "warm    and  COLD  RECEPTION"  IN  STRAT- 
FORD. 

Mr.  Lee  preached  in  Stratford,  and  was  kindly  entertained  at 
the  house  of  a  Mr.  Curtis.  "  I  don't  know,"  he  says,  "  that 
I  have  had  so  much  kindness  showed  me  in  a  new  place 
since  I  came  to  the  state."  What  a  pity  the  history  could 
not  stop  here.  It  was  the  calm  that  precedes  the  storm. 
It  is  an  unfortunate  fact,  says  his  nephew,  Rev.  Leroy  M. 
Lee,  that  this  "  milk  of  human  kindness"  that  so  delighted 
Mr.  Lee,  so  far  from  yielding  a  rich  and  generous  cream,  had, 
by  the  time  of  his  next  visit,  curdled  and  turned  sour.  He 
rode  to  Stratford  and  put  up  at  Solomon  Curtis's,  as  usual. 
"  When  I  went  in,  his  wife  did  not  ask  me  to  sit  down.  Her 
husband  came  in,  but  did  not  appear  as  friendly  as  formerly. 
At  dark  I  asked  Mrs.  Curtis  if  her  husband  was  going  to 
meeting  ?  She  said  '  she  guessed  not.'  So  I  went  to  the 
town-house  alone,  and  was  hard  put  to  it  to  get  a  candle, 
but  I  bless  God  I  felt  quite  resigned,  and  not  ashamed  to 
own  my  Lord.  After  preaching  I  returned  to  Mr.  Curtis's, 
and  found  he  had  but  little  to  say.  He  went  to  prayer  with- 
out saying  anything  to  me,  and  then  I  waited  to  see  if  he 
would  ask  me  to  go  to  bed.  After  some  time,  he  got  up  and 
asked  me  to  cover  up  the  fire  when  I  went  to  bed."  This 
was  remarkably  cool;  cool  as  an  iceberg,  frigid  as  the 
north  pole.  Mr.  Lee  philosophically  remarks  in  his  Journal, 
"  I  often  wonder  that  I  am  not  turned  out  of  doors."  The 
reason  of  this  unkind  treatment  was,  that  Mr.  Lee  believed 
in  the  possibihty  of  falling  from  grace.  Therefore,  he  was 
dandled  on  the  cold  hand  of  inditference,  and  permitted  the 
next  morning  to  depart  "  without  family  prayer  or  break- 
fast." 

But  the  scenes  have  changed.  Methodism  has  been  firm- 
ly established  in  Stratford  for  many  years.  We  have  a 
beautiful  house  of  worship,  a  convenient  parsonage,  a  flour- 


238  THE  HEROES  OF  METHODISM. 


ishing  society,  and  many  who  have  long  been  "  given  to 
hospitality,"  whose  parlors  have  witnessed  the  hearty  wel- 
comes which  the  servants  of  God  have  received. 

LEE  AND  THE  SAYBROOK  PLATFORM. 

A  short  time  after  Mr.  Lee  had  preached  a  powerful  sermon 
against  Calvinism,  a  tinker  came  to  Weston  in  pursuit  of 
work ;  some  one  told  him  he  could  find  employment  in  the 
place ;  that  "the  Methodists  were  likely  to  beat  a  hole  through 
the  Saybrook  platform,  and  if  he  could  mend  that;  and  stay 
long  enough,  he  could  be  employed."  This  amusing  inci- 
dent shows  the  impression  the  sermon  made  upon  the  people. 
Since  then  many  more  holes  have  been  made  in  the  old 
platform,  and  many  theological  tinkers  have  been  employed 
in  trying  to  solder  them  up,  but  all  in  vain ;  it  seems  im- 
possible to  stop  the  leak.  After  preaching  that  sermon,  Mr. 
Lee  had  new  friends,  new  homes,  new  preaching  places,  all 
proving  its  utility. 

Soon  after,  he  preached  in  Newtown,  on  "  the  worth  of  the 
soul,  and  the  danger  of  its  loss,"  in  the  Congregational  meet- 
ing-house. It  was  a  sermon  full  of  terror.  He  says,  in 
reference  to  it,  "  I  did  not  give  them  velvet-mouthed  preach- 
ing, though  I  had  a  large  velvet  cushion  under  my  hands." 

He  met  with  much  opposition  in  Reading ;  but  he  com- 
forts himself  by  saying,  "  The  lion  begins  to  roar  very  loud 
in  this  place ;  a  sure  sign  that  he  is  about  to  lose  some  of 
his  subjects." 

LEE  AND  THE  AGED  MINISTER. 

"  At  Stratford,"  said  father  Woolsey,  "  I  saw  an  old  gentleman, 
a  Calvinist  minister,  who,  when  he  was  a  hundred  years  old, 
went  into  the  pulpit  and  made  a  prayer ;  and  I  understood 
that  when  the  Methodist  preachers  first  came  into  the  state 
of  Connecticut  he  went  to  hear  them.    The  late  Rev.  Jesse  Lee 


JESSE  LEE. 


239 


was  one  of  the  first.  He  went  to  hear  him,  and  when  preach- 
ing was  over,  he  came  to  him  and  said :  '  Sir,  I  do  not  find 
much  fault  with  your  preaching,  but  I  am  afraid  you  are  not 
on  a  good  errand.'  *  Why  so  V  said  the  preacher.  '  Why,' 
said  he,  '  I  am  afraid  you  have  come  to  break  up  our  con- 
gregations.' Mr.  Lee  said,  'Have  you  any  sinners  here?' 
*Yes,'  said  he.  'Well,'  said  Mr.  Lee,  'they  are  the  ones 
after  which  I  came.  I  am  on  the  errand  of  our  Lord ;  I 
came  not  to  call  the  righteous,  but  sinners  to  repentance.' 
The  old  gentleman  said,  'If  you  think  you  are  called  to 
preach,  you  ought  to  go  to  the  wilderness,  and  preach  to  the 
people  there,  for  it  is  as  much  as  the  people  can  do  to  sup- 
port the  preachers  that  they  have  already.''  'Well,  then,' 
said  Mr.  Lee,  '  it  is  the  money,  not  the  flock,  you  are  in  pur- 
suit of.'  '  No,'  said  the  old  gentleman,  '  but  it  is  our  duty 
to  take  care  of  the  people  here.'  '  Then,'  said  Mr.  Lee,  '  I 
am  afraid  you  are  hke  the  dog  in  the  fable,  who  would  neither 
eat  the  hay  himself,  nor  sufi'er  the  ox  to  eat  it.'  (The  reason 
why  Mr.  Lee  said  this  was,  the  old  gentleman  had  lately  given 
up  preaching,  because  his  eyesight  had  failed  him,  and  he 
could  no  longer  see  to  read  his  sermons.)  The  minister  re- 
phed,  '  I  am  an  old  man.'  '  Never  too  old  to  do  good,'  said 
.Mr.  Lee.  At  this  the  old  gentleman  was  offended,  and  thus 
the  conversation  was  brought  to  a  close." 

ME.  LEE'S  FIRST  SERMON  IN  REDDING,  AND  ITS 
RESULTS. 

The  Rev.  Elijah  Woolsey,  of  sweet  and  precious  memory, 
who  travelled  Redding  circuit,  Connecticut,  as  early  as  1*796, 
and  was  intimate  with  the  men  who  were  well  acquainted 
with  Jesse  Lee,  and  his  first  visit  to  that  place,  gives  the 
following  account  of  it  in  his  interesting  work,  called  "  The 
Supernumerary,"  edited  by  the  Rev.  George  Coles.  What 
invests  it  with  additional  interest  is,  that  he  received  it  from 
those  who  were  eye  and  ear  witnesses.    Most  of  them,  like 


240 


THE  HEROES  OF  METHODISM. 


the  venerable  Woolsey,  "have  fallen  asleep;"  I  know 
of  none  of  them  who  have  continued  to  this  day.  The 
account  is  as  follows:  "I  have  received  my  information 
from  one  of  the  parties  concerned,  a  local  preacher,  now 
living.  He  told  me  that  there  were  four  men,  of  whom 
he  was  one,  that  used  to  have  their  feasts  together  fre- 
quently, and  it  cost  them  a  great  deal ;  they  had  not 
been  in  the  habit  of  hearing  any  preaching,  except  by  the 
Calvinists.  AVhen  Jesse  Lee  came  into  the  town  he  inquired 
for  the  preacher  of  the  place ;  and  being  directed  to  his 
house,  he  rode  up  to  the  door,  and  inquired  of  the  gentle- 
man if  he  were  the  minister  of  the  place.  He  said  he  was. 
Mr.  Lee  then  said  he  was  a  preacher  also,  and  asked  if  he 
might  preach  in  his  pulpit.  The  minister  asked  him  of 
what  denomination  he  was.  Mr.  Lee  told  him  he  was  a 
Methodist.  The  minister  then  said,  'is'o.'  'May  I  preach 
to  your  people  V  said  Mr.  Lee.  The  answer  was,  'Xo.'  Mr. 
Lee  said,  'I  will  preach  on  that  rock,'  pointing  with  his 
hand  to  it,  'in  two  weeks,'  at  such  an  hour,  and  said  he 
wished  he  would  give  notice  of  it  to  his  people,  and  come 
and  hear  him  himself.  Mr.  Lee  had  but  little  trouble  to  give 
notice,  for  the  news  soon  spread  like  fire  among  dry  stubble, 
and  almost  the  whole  town  came  to  hear  him.  Before  he 
arrived  at  the  place  some  said,  'Mr.  Methodist,  you  would 
not  come  here  to  preach,  if  you  knew  to  whom  you  had 
to  preach  ;'  but  when  he  came  there,  one  said  he  looked  like 
a  good-natured  fellow,  but  guessed  that  he  did  not  know 
much.  But  when  he  took  his  stand  for  preaching,  he  gave 
out  his  hymn,  and  asked  if  any  one  would  raise  the  tune, 
but  no  one  sung  but  himself.  After  he  had  been  preaching 
awhile,  one  said  that  he  did  know  something  ;  and  when  he 
had  gone  on  a  little  further,  one  said  that  he  knew  as  much 
as  their  minister ;  at  length  he  said  he  knew  more,  and  at 
the  conclusion  he  said  he  thought  that  his  preacher  knew 
nothing,  and  he  believed  that  his  preacher  thought  so  him- 
self.   The  word  had  taken  such  effect  on  these  four  men. 


241 


one  of  whom  was  a  lawyer,  that  they  were  all  convinced, 
and  soon  after  converted,  and  all  of  them  became  preachers 
of  the  Gospel.  The  lawyer  used  to  plead  at  the  court,  and 
in  the  intermission  used  to  preach.  The  judge  one  day 
heard  him  preach,  and,  when  he  had  closed  his  sermon, 
came  to  him  and  said,  '  How  is  this  ?  do  you  plead  law  and 
preach  the  Gospel  too  V  He  answered,  '  I  think  it  will  do 
very  well ;  for  it  is  necessary  that  there  should  be  lawyers 
to  investigate  the  law,  and  it  is  necessary  that  they  should 
be  good  men  in  order  to  do  justice;  and  it  is  necessary 
that  there  should  be  preachers  in  order  to  investigate  the 
Gospel,  and  it  is  necessary  that  they  should  be  good  men 
too,  in  order  that  they  may  do  good.'  *  True,  true,'  said  the 
judge,  and  left  him.  Brother  Smith  (for  that  was  his 
name)  told  me  that  he  would  not  undertake  a  bad  cause  for 
love  or  money ;  he  once  had  done  it,  but  he  suffered  for  it, 
and  never  would  do  it  again.  But  when  the  people  came 
to  him  to  plead  their  cause,  he  would  examine  them  as  criti- 
cally as  he  could,  and  if  their  case  was  bad,  he  would  advise 
them  to  go  and  settle  as  soon  as  they  could,  and  never  would 
ask  anytliing  for  his  advice.  But  to  return.  When  Mr.  Lee 
had  closed  the  service,  he  inquired  if  there  were  any  who 
would  open  their  doors  to  such  like  preaching,  and  if  so,  he 
would  preach  again  in  two  weeks.  Brother  Aaron  Sanford. 
said  that  his  door  was  open,  and  that  he  must  go  with 
him,  and  make  his  house  his  home.  So  he  permitted  the 
Methodist  ministers  to  preach  in  his  house,  and  when 
his  house  became  too  small,  he  enlarged  it,  and  had  a 
swing  partition,  so  that  it  could  be  raised  up;  and  we 
used  to  hold  our  quarterly  meetings  there  until  we  were 
straitened  for  room.  The  friends  then  thought  they  would 
build  a  house  for  worship;  but  they  had  opposition  from 
the  'standing  order,'  who  blocked  up  their  way,  so  that 
they  could  not  get  the  place  they  anticipated.  Brother  Aaron 
Hunt,  having  a  farm  near  the  Presbyterian  church,  gave  our 
friends  the  offer  of  a  lot  to  build  on,  and  the  people  came  to 


242  THE  HEROES  OF  METHODISM.* 

work  to  clear  oflf  the  lot.  The  Presbyterians  then  consulted 
■what  to  do  ;  for  they  said  if  the  Methodists  built  their  house 
80  near  to  their  place  of  worship,  it  would  ruin  them,  for  they 
preached  so  loud  that  they  could  not  hear  their  preacher 
preach,  it  being  so  close  by.  They  then  concluded  to  accom- 
modate the  Methodists  with  a  building  lot  at  another  place, 
not  far  oft".  They  succeeded  in  building  a  house,  and  at 
length  that  was  too  small,  and  then  they  built  the  second, 
and  now  they  have  a  stationed  preacher  there,  and  support 
him  well.  God  has  been  very  gracious  to  brother  Sanford's 
family ;  I  believe  nearly  all  of  them  have  been  converted. 
One  son  is  a  preacher,  and  three  grandsons  are  dispensing 
the  word  of  life.  Brother  Aaron  Hunt,  one  of  our  old 
preachers,  married  into  this  excellent  family." 

LEE  AND  ELDER  HULL. 

The  following  incident  will  serve  to  illustrate  the  nature 
of  the  hostility  everywhere  opposed  to  the  establishment 
of  Methodism  in  New-England.  On  one  of  Mr.  Lee's 
early  visits  to  Redding,  Connecticut,  he  preached  on  "  the 
way  of  salvation."  Setting  forth  Christ  as  the  Saviour 
of  sinners,  he  described,  with  great  clearness  and  force  of 
application,  the  way  of  repentance  and  faith,  as  leading 
directly  to  Christ,  and  as  the  means  of  obtaining  salvation. 
Elder  Hull,  a  Baptist  minister,  was  present,  and  listened  to 
the  sermon  with  considerable  impatience.  The  sermon  was 
no  sooner  finished  than  the  elder  rose  up  in  the  congrega- 
tion, and  said,  "  I  differ  from  the  preacher.  He  says  that 
in  order  to  be  saved  you  must  repent  and  believe ;  but  he 
did  not  say  whether  you  could  repent  in  one  week,  or  three 
weeks,  or  six  weeks.  He  says,  '  repentance  is  sorrow  for  sin.' 
It  takes  some  time  to  be  sorry  for  sin.  He  says, '  repentance 
is  confession  of  sin ;'  and  it  takes  some  time  to  confess  sin  : 
and  he  says,  '  repentance  is  forsaking  of  sin  and  it  takes 
Fome  time  to  forsake  it,  especially  if  you  have  been  some 


243 


time  committing  it.  And  then,  after  all  this,  he  says,  '  You 
must  believe  in  Christ.'  All  this  will  require  a  long  time. 
Now  for  my  part,"  continued  Mr.  Hull,  "  I  believe  religion 
may  be  obtained  in  a  very  short  time."  Surprised,  no  less 
at  the  objection  than  its  frivolousness,  Mr.  Lee  straightened 
himself  up  in  the  pulpit,  and,  after  a  keen  and  somewhat 
satirical  gaze  at  his  opponent,  said  in  reply :  "  The  gentleman 
seems  to  be  offended  with  me  for  not  saying  how  long  it 
would  take  any  one  to  embrace  religion.  True,  I  did  define 
repentance,  but  I  did  not  say  how  long  it  would  take  any 
one  to  repent ;  that  is  no  part  of  my  business.  I  know  it 
will  take  a  sinner  as  long  to  be  converted  as  it  will  take 
him  to  come  to  Christ  by  repentance  and  faith.  It  may  all 
take  place  in  a  very  short  time.  A  hunter  goes  into  the 
woods  to  hunt,  and  presently  finds  a  deer ;  he  levels  his  gun, 
*  that  takes  some  time ;'  he  brings  his  sight  along  the  gun  to 
bear  on  the  deer,  '  that  takes  some  time ;'  he  pulls  the  trigger, 
'  that  takes  some  time then  the  flint  strikes  the  pan,  '  that 
takes  some  time ;'  then  the  fire  kindles  the  powder,  '  that 
takes  some  time then  the  powder  catches  in  the  barrel,  &c., 
then  the  ball  flies  out,  &c.,  passes  along  the  distance,  &c., 
and  finally  hits  the  deer,  &c.  Now  all  this  takes  time ;  but 
it  does  not  take  a  week  to  kill  a  deer !  Is  the  gentleman 
satisfied  ?"  If  he  was  not  satisfied  he  was  silenced ;  and  the 
repetition  of  the  ridiculous  objection,  "  that  takes  some  time," 
drawled  out,  as  it  was,  at  the  end  of  every  sentence,  con- 
founded the  captious  objector,  and  created  no  small  diver- 
sion at  his  expense.  It  was  as  fatal  to  his  cause  as  the  un- 
erring rifle  of  the  huntsman  to  the  life  of  the  deer ;  and  left 
him  quite  as  dead  in  the  field,  so  rashly  entered. 

LEE'S  RECEPTION  IN  BRIDGEPORT,  IN  CONSEQUENCE 
OF  A  SINGULAR  DREAM. 

A  singular  incident  is  related  in  connexion  with  the  introduc- 
tion of  Methodism  into  Bridgeport,  which  went  to  confirm 
11* 


244  THE  HEROES  OF  METHODISM. 


the  impression  of  Mr.  Lee,  that  he  was  providentially  desig- 
nated for  the  work  upon  which  he  had  entered  in  Connecti 
cut :  One  afternoon  a  Mi-s.  Wells  was  at  the  house  of  hei 
neighbour,  Mrs.  Wheeler,  taking  tea,  and  stated  that,  during 
the  j')receding  night,  she  had  dreamed  that  a  man  rode  up  to 
a  house  in  which  she  was,  got  off  his  horse,  took  his  saddle- 
bags on  his  arm,  and,  walking  directly  into  the  house,  said, 
"  I  am  a  minister  of  the  Gospel  of  Jesus  Christ,  and  have 
come  to  preach  to  the  people  of  this  place.  If  you  will  call 
your  neighbours  together,  I  will  preach  to  them  to-night." 
She  moreover  said  that  she  retained  so  vivid  and  perfect  a 
recollection  of  the  man's  face  and  general  appearance,  that 
she  should  certainly  know  him  if  she  should  ever  see  him. 

While  she  was  yet  speaking,  she  looked  through  the  win- 
dow and  exclaimed,  "  Why  there  is  the  man  now  !"  And  it 
was  so.  Mr.  Lee  rode  up,  dismounted,  took  his  saddle-bags 
on  his  arm,  entered  the  house,  and  addressing  himself  to  the 
women,  said,  "  I  am  a  minister  of  the  Gospel  of  Jesus  Christ. 
I  have  come  to  preach  to  the  people  of  this  place.  If  you 
will  call  the  neighbours  together,  I  will  preach  to  them  to- 
night." He  was  welcomed  to  the  house,  and  that  night 
preached  the  first  sermon  ever  delivered  in  that  part  of  Con- 
necticut by  a  Methodist  preacher. 

The  house  stood  on  what  was  then  called  Mutton  Lane, 
and  Mr.  Lee,  in  relating  the  circumstances,  would  sometimes 
say,  he  "  preached  in  a  house  in  Mutton  Lane,  and  the  Lord 
gave  him  three  ewe-lambs" — two  of  these  were  Mrs.  Wells 
and  Mrs.  Wheeler. — Rev.  Thomas  E.  Bond^  Sr. 

LEE  AND  A  SELF-CONCEITED  BIGOT. 

Mr.  Lee  then  went  to  Farmington,  and  had  been  but  a  little 
while  in  the  house  of  his  host  before  he  began,  according  to 
his  custom,  an  examination  of  the  principles  of  his  guest. 
He  was  a  violent  advocate  of  the  "  infallible  perseverance  of 
the  saints,"  and  avowed  it  as  his  belief  that  "  if  David  had 


245 


died  in  the  act  of  adultery,  and  Peter  while  swearing,  they 
would  have  been  saved." 

"  Then,"  said  Mr.  Lee,  "  after  a  man  is  converted  he  must 
be  saved — he  can't  help  it  ?" 

"  Yes,  he  is  obliged  to  be  saved  whether  he  will  or  no ; 
for  it  is  impossible  for  him  to  help  it."  And  he  added,  "  I 
would  as  soon  hear  you  curse  God  at  once,  as  to  hear  you 
say,  that  God  would  give  his  love  to  a  person,  and  then  take 
it  away  again  !" 

"  I  do  not  say  God  will  take  his  love  from  them,  but  they 
may  cast  it  away." 

"  If  God  sent  the  leprosy  upon  a  man,"  it  was  replied,  "no 
one  but  God  could  take  it  away." 

"  So,"  said  Mr.  Lee,  "  you  think  religion  and  leprosy  much 
the  same — sent  as  a  judgment  upon  a  person 

The  application  of  his  argument  silenced  the  man ;  he  was 
mortified  and  chagrined  at  his  defeat,  and  so  vexed,  withal, 
that  he  absolutely  refused  to  give  Mr.  Lee  and  his  compan- 
ion the  necessary  directions  to  find  their  next  stopping  place. 

LEE  AND  THE  BAPTIST  PREACHER. 

Lee  was  preaching  once  at  Suffield  when  a  Baptist  min- 
ister who  was  present  began  to  catechise  him  publicly  as  to 
his  "  conversion  and  call  to  the  ministry."  Declining  to 
argue,  he  consented  to  give  a  brief  account,  and  began  by 
saying,  "  I  sought  the  Lord  and  found  him."  The  Baptist 
preacher's  righteous  soul  was  stirred  up  within  him — he  felt 
a  thrill  of  holy  horror  as  he  scented  the  heresy.  He  abrupt- 
ly denied  the  correctness  of  any  such  statement,  and  vehe- 
mently protested,  "  that  no  man  ever  sought  God  before  he 
was  regenerated,  and  that  God  was  always  found  of  them  that 
sought  him  notP 


246 


THE  HEROES  OF  METHODISM. 


LEE'S  GERMAN  TAKEN  FOR  HEBREW. 

A  minister  anxious  to  ascertain  whether  Mr.  Lee  had  a 
liberal  education  before  giving  his  permission  for  him  to 
preach  in  his  church,  addressed  some  question  to  him  ia 
Latin.  A  reply  was  returned  in  German,  such  as  Mr.  Lee 
had  learned  in  his  early  ministry  in  North  Carolina.  This 
greatly  surprised  the  minister.  He  repeated  it  in  Greek. 
It  was  again  answered  in  German.  Not  understanding  the 
language,  and  supposing  it  to  be  Hebrew,  of  which  be  knew 
nothing,  he  concluded  Mr.  Lee  knew  more  than  himself,  and 
granted  him  permission  to  preach  in  his  church. 

LEE  AND  REV.  MR.  DARROUGH. 

But  there  were  lights  as  well  as  shadows  to  the  itinerancy. 
Lee  found  ministers  who  were  free  from  bigotry,  and  were 
very  different  from  some  that  have  been  described.  At  New- 
London  a  Baptist  minister,  by  the  name  of  Darrough,  came 
in  and  took  tea  with  him  in  the  house  of  a  widow.  A  very 
friendly  conversation  as  to  the  progress  and  success  of  religion 
ensued.  In  the  course  of  it  Mr.  Lee  "  told  him,  if  he  did  not 
take  care  the  Methodists  would  outdo  him."  "  I  don't 
know  how  they  will  go  about  it !"  *'  Why  we  will  out-preach 
you,  out-live  you,  and  out-love  you."  "  Well,"  was  the  true 
Christian  reply,  "  you  may,  but  if  you  do  you  sh'all  have  hard 
work  for  it :  for  I  intend  to  love  God  with  all  my  soul,  and 
then  if  you  out-love  me  your  vessel  must  be  bigger  than 
mine."  Heaven  and  earth  must  admire  such  spirits — big- 
otry would  blush  in  their  presence — striving  to  excel  each 
other  in  spiritual  attainments  and  in  exhibiting  the  excel- 
lences of  Christianity. 

How  well  it  would  be  if  the  Christian  world  were  baptized 
with  such  a  spirit ! 


247 


LEE'S  COLD  RECEPTION  FROM  COL.  B. 

The  climate  soon  changed,  and  Mr.  Lee  encountered  a 
man  of  a  very  different  spirit,  one  who  had  been  born  under 
another  planet.  He  went  into  Rhode  Island,  and  he  had 
been  directed  to  call  upon  a  Col.  B.  in  Coventry.  He  did 
so  about  sunset,  when  the  following  dialogue  took  place : 

Mr.  Lee  inquired,  "  Have  you  not  entertained  Methodist 
preachers  sometimes  ?" 

He  answered,  "  Yes,  I  have  sometimes." 

"  Would  you  be  willing  to  entertain  another  ?" 

"  I  would  full  as  leave^  if  it  suited  them  as  well,  if  they 
would  go  along." 

"  Well,  then  I  will  go  along." 

And  ffo  along  he  did,  horse  and  all. 

He  was  a  stranger;  it  was  dark;  he  gave  his  horse  the 
rein ;  the  faithful  animal  bore  him  in  safety  to  the  hospi- 
table residence  of  Gen.  Lippett,  where  he  was  kindly  enter- 
tained, though  the  family  had  retired  to  rest,  and  were  obliged 
to  rise  to  receive  their  thrice  welcome  guest. 

LEE  AND  A  YANKEE  TRAINING  DAY. 

A  number  of  singular  incidents  occurred  at  a  place  called 
Mount  Desert.  Lee  went  by  water  in  a  canoe,  and  was  ac- 
companied by  a  physician.  It  proved  to  be  training  day, 
and  there  was  a  large  collection  of  both  sexes  ;  the  women 
waiting  for  the  muster  to  terminate,  that  they  might  join  in 
the  festivities  of  the  dance.  But  when  they  learned  Lee's 
purpose  to  preach,  they  were  sore  perplexed.  Some  said, 
"  We  will  have  a  dance ;"  others  said,  "  Nay,  we  will  have  a 
sermon."  The  woman  of  the  house  said,  "  If  they  will  not 
hear  the  Gospel,  they  shall  not  dance."  The  man  of  the 
house  cried  out,  "  If  the  Lord  has  sent  the  man,  let  us  hear 
him ;  but  if  the  devil  has  sent  him,  let  him  take  him  away 


248 


THE  HEROES  OF  METHODISM. 


again."  But  the  preacher  told  them  he  would  not  preach 
in  the  house  at  all ;  and  he  left  it  to  seek  a  place  where  he 
would  be  less  likely  to  violate  the  prohibition  of  an  improper 
use  of  pearls.  On  his  way  to  this  modern  Babel  a  man  call- 
ing himself  a  Christian  and  a  Baptist  went  with  him.  The 
man  was  a  strong  fatahst,  but  brimful  of  religious  talk.  He 
soon  discovered  Mr.  Lee  beheved  that  Christ  died  for  all  men, 
and  that  all  were  called  by  God,  and  might  come  to  Christ 
and  be  saved.  This  discovery  put  him  in  a  violent  passion  ; 
he  denounced  it  as  a  damnable  doctrine,  and  seemed  ready  to 
swear  outright,  and 

Prove  his  doctrine  orthodox, 
By  apostolic  blows  and  knocks." 

LEE  AND  THE  LAWYERS. 

The  following  anecdote  has  often  been  repeated,  but  has  lost 
much  of  its  interest  because  many  have- supposed  it  was  too 
good  to  be  true.  But  it  was  related  by  Mr.  Lee  to  one  of  his 
intimate  friends  and  contemporaries.  Its  confirmation  gives 
it  additional  freshness  and  interest.  It  will  also  teach  a  certain 
class  of  men  who  love  to  make  sport  of  gentlemen  of  the 
cloth,  that  it  is  possible  to  "  wake  up  the  wrong  passenger ;" 
that  there  are  those  who  have  intelligence  enough  to  know 
their  rights  and  their  wrongs,  and  who  have  wit  enough  to 
"  answer  a  fool"  according  to  his  folly. 

The  amusing  circumstance  occurred  between  Boston  and 
Lynn.  Mr.  Lee  was  riding  slowly  along  the  road  to  Lynn, 
when  he  was  overtaken  by  two  young  lawyers,  who  knew 
him  to  be  a  Methodist  preacher,  but  he  knew  nothing  of 
them.  They  were  full  of  life  and  hilarity,  and  determined 
to  have  a  little  innocent  sport  with  the  parson.  After  salut- 
ing him  in  a  friendly  manner,  inquiring  after  his  health,  &c., 
the  following  singular  conversation  took  place  : 

First  Lawyer.  I  believe  you  are  a  preacher,  sir  ? 


249 


Mr.  Lee.  Yes  ;  I  generally  pass  for  one. 

First  Lawyer.  You  preach  very  often,  I  suppose  ? 

Mr.  Lee.  Generally  every  day ;  frequently  twice  or  thrice. 

Second  Lawyer.  How  do  you  find  time  to  study  when  you 
preach  so  often  ? 

Mr.  Lee.  I  study  when  riding,  and  read  when  resting. 

First  Lawyer.  But  do  you  not  write  your  sermons  ? 

Mr.  Lee.  No ;  not  very  often,  at  least. 

Second  Lawyer.  Do  you  not  often  make  mistakes  in 
preaching  extemporaneously  ? 

Mr.  Lee.  I  do  sometimes. 

Second  Lawyer.  How  do  you  do  then  ?  Do  you  correct 
them? 

Mr.  Lee.  That  depends  on  the  character  of  the  mistake. 
I  was  preaching  the  other  day,  and  I  went  to  quote  the  text, 
"  All  liars  shall  have  their  part  in  the  lake  that  burneth 
with  fire  and  brimstone,"  and  by  mistake  I  said,  "  All  laio- 
yers  shall  have  their  part — " 

Second  Lawyer  (interrupting  him.)  What  did  you  do 
with  that  ?   Did  you  correct  it  ? 

Mr.  Lee.  O,  no,  indeed !  It  was  so  nearly  true,  I  did  n't 
think  it  worth  while  to  correct  it. 

"  Humph !"  said  one  of  them,  (with  a  hasty  and  impatient 
glance  at  the  other,)  "I  do  n't  know  whether  you  are  more 
a  knave  or  a  fool." 

"  Neither,"  Mr.  Lee  quietly  replied,  turning  at  the  same 
time  his  mischievous  eyes  from  one  to  the  other ;  "  I  believe 
I  am  just  between  the  two." 

This  was  the  climax.  His  keen,  piercing  wit,  his  cutting 
sarcasm,  his  talent  at  repartee,  made  them  feel  exceedingly 
foolish  ;  and  thev  drove  hastily  on,  leaving  Mr.  Lee  alone  in 
his  glory. 

LEE'S  KETORT  UPON  GEORGE  PICKERING. 

At  one  of  the  early  conferences,  in  Lynn,  when  the  examin- 
ation of  character  was  going  on,  the  bishop  asked,  "  Is  there 


250  THE  HEROES  OF  METHODISM. 


anything  against  brother  Lee?"  "Yes,"  said  the  Rev. 
George  Pickering,  springing  to  his  feet  suddenly,  as  if  he 
was  impelled  to  speak,  "I  have  an  objection  to  brother 
Lee."  "What  is  it?"  inquired  the  bishop.  "I  think 
brother  Lee  is  too  self-willed and  the  members  of  the 
conference  smiled  all  over  their  faces.  "  We  have  no  law 
against  that,^''  said  the  bishop ;  "  brother  Lee  can  retire." 

The  next  name  on  the  list  was  George  Pickering.  The 
presiding  officer  inquired,  "  Is  there  anything  against  brother 
Pickering  V  "  Yes,  sir,"  said  Mr.  Lee,  who  had  just  come 
in ;  "  he  will  have  his  own  way."  This  admirable  retort 
caused  the  preachers  for  a  moment  to  forget  all  their  gravity, 
and  the  important  business  that  had  summoned  them  to- 
gether, and  they  all  enjoyed  a  hearty  laugh,  in  which  the 
chairman  joined  as  well  as  others. 

LEE  RETORTED  UPOX  BY  ASA  SHINN. 

In  1812,  the  first  delegated  General  Conference  was  held  in 
the  city  of  New- York.  The  question  of  ordaining  local 
preachers  was  discussed  and  decided  in  the  affirmative.  Mr. 
Lee  opposed  it  strongly,  and,  among  other  arguments,  showed 
that  a  local  man  could  not  perform  his  ordination  vows.  Asa 
Shinn  replied  to  him ;  and  showed  that  the  same  form  of 
ordination  required  an  elder  to  '•'■rule  well  his  oivn  family  'j'' 
that  brother  Lee  had  promised  to  perform  this  duty  twenty 
years  ago,  and  had  not  kept  his  promise  to  that  day,  and 
was  therefore  a  delinquent,  and  ought  to  keep  his  own  vows, 
&c.  This  was  a  shot  at  the  very  centre  of  his  "  single  bless- 
edness," and  provoked  a  hearty  laugh  at  the  expense  of  the 
bachelor,  which  no  one  relished  better  than  himself.  Mr. 
Lee  was  overcome,  and  that  with  his  own  weapons,  which 
he  had  often  wielded  so  successfully.  His  opposition  ceased ; 
he  found  himself  in  a  minority,  and  ever  since  the  question 
has  been  settled,  and  local  preachers  have  been  ordained  when 
they  have  been  properly  recommended. 


261 


LEE'S  UNSUCCESSFUL  PRAYER  IN  REFERENCE  TO 
MATRIMONY. 

The  Virginia  Conference  was  called  the  Old  Bachelor  Con- 
ference, there  were  so  many  single  men  of  ripe  years  in  it. 
The  preachers  that  got  married  lost  caste ;  and,  as  but  little 
provision  was  made  for  wives  or  families,  a  number  were 
obliged  to  locate :  so  to  get  married  and  locate  were  synony- 
mous, and  hence  the  prejudice  against  ministers  marrying. 
At  the  Virginia  Conference,  in  1808,  a  preacher  assigned 
grave  reasons  why  he  had  changed  his  relation  in  life ;  why 
he  thought  two  were  better  than  one ;  why  he  thought  it 
not  good  for  man  to  be  alone ;  how  he  had  not  entered  into 
this  state  hastily  or  unadvisedly ;  that  he  had  consulted  his 
elder  and  judicious  brethren  ;  he  had  also  made  it  a  subject 
of  devout  meditation  and  earnest  prayer ;  and,  after  obtaining 
light  from  every  available  source,  in  view  of  all  the  circum- 
stances in  the  case,  he  had  felt  it  his  duty,  and  believed  it 
would  be  far  better  for  him ;  and  thereforejhe  had  married  ! 
There  was  no  law  prohibiting  marriage,  and  therefore  no 
transgression — and,  of  course,  no  penalty — the  statement  be- 
ing perfectly  voluntary  on  the  part  of  the  brother,  the  confer- 
ence making  no  such  requirement.  It  amused  the  old  bache- 
lor, and,  rising  slowly  from  his  seat,  he  said  he  was  afraid  the 
brotlier  had  fallen  into  a  mistake ;  he  had  been  in  that  way 
himself,  and  would  like  to  tell  his  experience  :  "I  once  thought 
I  ought  to  marry,"  he  said,  "  and  I  thought  a  great  deal  about 
it  too.  And  T.  thought  I  must  pray  about  it ;  but  somehow 
or  other  I  always  found  myself  praying,  '  0  Lord,  let  thy  will 
be  done — but  do  let  me  have  the  woman!'  I  wanted  the 
woman,  and  my  prayers  always  ended  there.  Perhaps  the 
brother  wanted  the  woman,  and  she  and  the  Lord  were 
willing ;  but  they  both  opposed  me !"  This  experience  would 
apply  to  so  many  cases,  that  it  was  too  much  for  the  gravity 
of  Uie  conference,  and  they  not  only  smiled,  but  also  laughed 
freely  at  the  relation. 


252 


THE  HEROES  OF  METHODISil. 


LEE'S  MAXXER  OF  IXTRODUCIXG  HIMSELF. 

"  New-England  was  remarkable  for  its  small  towns.  Mr.  Lee, 
in  going  through  those  towns,  would  ride  up  to  a  door  and 
knock  with  his  whip,  and  would  inquire  of  the  persons  pre- 
senting themselves,  in  his  soft  and  pleasant  way,  '  Do  you 
know  me  ?  I  am  a  Methodist  preacher !  Will  you  let  me 
preach  in  your  house  V  The  reply  would  perlfaps  be,  '  No  I' 
'Farewell,'  he  would  say,  and  so  proceed  through  the  vil- 
lage without  any  encouragement.  He  would  then  put  his 
horse  at  the  tavern,  and  go  to  the  school-house,  and  ask  for 
liberty  to  preach  there.  If  denied  the  use  of  the  school-house, 
he  would  select  some  spot  in  the  open  air  ;  go  to  the  school, 
and  request  the  children  to  inform  their  parents  and  neigh- 
bours that  a  Methodist  preacher  would  preach  at  such  a 
time  and  place  as  he  would  name. 

"After  preaching  in  those  places,  and  before  dismissing 
the  congregation,  he  would  remark  that,  if  any  would  open 
their  door,  he  would  preach  again  in  two  weeks ;  and  most 
generally  he  would  receive  an  invitation,  and  thus  procure 
at  once  a  place  to  preach  and  a  place  to  lodge.  In  this  way 
he  would  form  a  two-weeks'  circuit,  send  for  a  preacher  to 
take  charge  of  it,  and  so  pass  on  to  form  another." 

LEE'S  SINGULAR  DREAM. 

"  In  the  year  1800, 1  travelled  on  what  was  then  called  Essex 
circuit.  Jesse  Lee  was  appointed  to  New-York  city,  but 
obtained  liberty  of  Bishop  Asbury  to  visit  the  New-England 
states,  and  especially  the  circuits  he  had  formed  in  his 
extended  tour. 

"Jesse  Lee  must  have  been  at  this  time  between  forty  and 
fifty  years  of  age,  but  had  never  yet  considered  it  duty  to 
take  to  himself  a  wife.  He  told  me,  when  he  visited  me  at 
Missisque  Bay,  in  the  southwest  corner  of  Lower  Canada, 


253 


that  he  had  dreamed  of  being  married  to  a  lady  of  great 
wealth,  and  that  he  had  left  the  itinerancy,  and  settled 
down ;  and  that  he  had  taken  his  chevavales  (overalls) 
and  hung  them  up  in  his  parlour,  to  remind  him  of  former 
clays.  Before  he  reached  us  the  people  had  heard  that  he 
weighed  three  hundred  pounds,  and  rode  on  two  horses ;  they 
were  at  a  loss  to  tell  how  he  could  contrive  to  ride  on  two 
horses,  but  when  he  came  they  discovered  that  he  rode  them 
alternately.  The  next  morning  after  his  arrival  at  Peter  Mil- 
ler's, his  lodging-place,  being  Sabbath,  I  told  him  we  were  to 
have  a  love-feast;  and,  the  meeting  being  about  two  miles  off, 
I  proposed  that  he  should  tarry,  and  come  with  brother  Miller 
at  the  preaching  hour ;  but  Jesse  said,  '  I  will  go  with  you, 
and  see  if  you  have  any  love  among  you.'  So  he  attended 
love-feast." 

LEE'S  PREACHING. 

"  He  preached  at  ten  o'clock,  and  requested  me  to  close,  and 
publish  that  he  would  preach  again  in  five  minutes.  After 
preaching  twice,  he  returned  to  brother  Miller's  and  dined. 
After  dinner  we  rode  twelve  miles  to  St.  Albans,  in  Vermont, 
and  preached  in  the  evening  on,  '  For  the  grace  of  God  that 
bringeth  salvation  hath  appeared  to  all  men,  teaching  us, 
that  denying,  ungodliness  and  worldly  lusts,  we  should  live 
soberly,  righteously,  and  godly,  in  this  present  world.'  Titus 
ii,  11,  12." 

LEE'S  EASE  OF  MANNER. 

"  Monday  morning  he  took  his  departure  for  New- York.  I 
gave  him  directions  where  to  call  and  get  his  dinner.  When 
he  arrived  at  the  house,  and  asked  if  such  a  man  lived  there, 
the  reply  was  that  he  did.  Jesse  said,  that  '  brother  Van- 
nest  directed  him  to  call  and  get  his  dinner,  and  his  horses 


254 


THE  HEROES  OF  METHODISM. 


fed.  Will  you  do  it?'  'Yes,  sir;  please  alight,'  was  the 
reply.  When  he  reached  the  city  he  was  asked  how  he  lived 
among  the  poor  in  the  new  country ;  he  replied,  '  On  the 
very  best  the  people  had  to  give.'  " — Peter  Vannest. 

LEE  AND  HIS  HOST. 

Mr.  Stroud  of  Virginia  related  the  following  anecdote  of  Rev. 
Jesse  Lee : 

After  preaching  he  invited  Mr.  Lee  to  go  home  with  him. 
When  they  arrived  at  the  house  Mr.  Lee  inquired,  Brother 
Stroud,  what  have  you  to  drink  ?  He  replied,  "I  have  Ap- 
ple-Jack, I  have  Jamaica  Spirits,  I  have  Holland  Gin,  and 
wines,  brother  Lee ;  which  do  you  prefer  ?"  "  Neither,"  said 
Mr.  Lee.  "I  have  not  touched  any  hquors  in  twenty  years." 
This  was  about  the  year  1800,  over  fifty  years  ago.  We 
see  from  this,  that  he  was  a  staunch  tee-totaler  more  than 
half  a  century  ago ;  that  he  practised  as  well  as  preached 
it.  This  was  long  before  the  Temperance  reformation. 
What  was  his  object  in  asking  this  question  ?  To  ascertain 
if  the  brother  used  spirituous  liquors,  that  he  might  introduce 
his  own  example  in  opposition. 

It  had  the  desired  effect  upon  the  brother.  Afterward 
he  was  careful  not  to  be  able  to  tell  a  minister  he  had  a 
variety  of  liquors  in  his  house. — Gabriel  P.  Disosway. 

LEE  LETTING  A  FELLOW     GO  FOR  SLIPPANCE." 

On  one  occasion  when  he  was  commencing  divine  service,  ho 
perceived  the  gentlemen  intermixed  with  the  ladies,  and  oc- 
cupying seats  appropriated  to  them. 

Supposing  they  were  ignorant  of  the  rule  on  that  subject, 
he  stated  it,  requesting  the  gentlemen  to  take  seats  on  their 
own  side  of  the  house. 

All  but  a  few  complied  with  the  request.    It  was  again 


JESSE  LEE. 


265 


repeated,  and  all  but  one  left.  lie  stood  his  ground  as  if  de- 
termined not  to  yield.  Again  the  rule  was  repeated,  and  the 
request  followed  it.  But  no  disposition  to  retire  was  indi- 
cated. Leaning  down  upon  the  desk,  and  fixing  his  pene- 
trating eye  upon  the  oflender  for  a  moment,  and  raising 
himself  erect,  and  looking  with  a  peculiar  smile  over  the  con- 
gregation, he  drawled  out :  "Well,  brethren,  I  asked  the  gen- 
tlemen to  retire  from  those  seats,  and  they  did  so.  But  it 
seems  that  man  is  determined  not  to  move.  We  must, 
therefore,  serve  him  as  the  little  boys  say,  when  a  marble  slips 
from  their  fingers — ^let  him  '  go  for  slippance^  " 

To  say  he  slipped  out  of  the  house,  is  only  to  describe  the 
fact  in  language  borrowed  from  the  figure  by  which  the  re- 
buke was  conveyed. 

LEE  WAKING  UP  A  CONGREGATION. 

At  another  time,  while  engaged  in  preaching,  he  was  not  a 
little  mortified  to  discover  many  of  the  congregation  taking 
rest  in  sleep,  and  not  a  little  annoyed  by  the  loud  talking 
of  the  people  in  the  yard.  Pausing  long  enough  for  the  ab- 
sence of  the  sound  to  startle  the  sleepers,  he  raised  his  voice, 
and  cried  out,  "I'll  thank  the  people  in  the  yard  not  to  talk 
so  loud  ;  they  '11  wake  up  the  people  in  the  house  !" 

This  was  "killing  two  birds  with  one  stone"  in  a  most 
adroit  and  eff'ectual  manner. 

LEE'S  FITNESS  FOR  THE  EPISCOPACY. 

Mr.  Richard  Whatcoat  was  elected  to  the  episcopal  oflSce  by 
a  small  majority  over  Mr.  Lee,  at  the  General  Conference 
held  in  Baltimore  in  1800.  Yet  Mr.  Lee  exhibited  the  very 
best  spint  under  the  circumstances.  Some  time  after,  some 
friend  referring  to  the  subject  of  his  non-election,  pleasantly 
suggested  that  he  was  probably  thought  to  be  too  full  of  wit 


256 


THE  HEROES  OF  METHODISM. 


and  humour  for  the  Episcopacy.  His  reply  was,  it  would 
be  unnatural  to  assume  the  gravity  of  the  office  previous  to 
receiving  it ;  put  me  in,  and  I  will  sustain  its  dignity. 

LEE  AND  OTHER  WEIGHTY  PREACHERS. 

There  were  weighty  men  in  the  Baltimore  Conference  that 
assembled  in  Baltimore,  May  1st,  1799.  Men  with  weight 
of  years,  weight  of  cares,  weight  of  responsibility,  weight  of 
character,  weight  of  talents,  weight  of  influence,  as  well  as 
physical  weight.  This  is  evident  from  Mr.  Lee's  Journal. 
He  says,  "  After  we  had  finished  our  business  in  conference, 
four  of  the  largest  preachers  among  us  went  to  a  store  and 
were  weighed.  My  weight  was  two  hundred  and  fifty-nine 
pounds  ;  Seely  Bunn's,  two  hundred  and  fifty-two ;  Thomas 
Lucas,  two  hundred  and  forty-five ;  and  Thomas  F.  Sargeant 
weighed  two  hundred  and  twenty ;  in  all,  nine  hundred  and 
seventy-six  pounds.  A  wonderful  weight  for  four  Methodist 
preachers,  and  all  of  us  travel  on  horseback."  There  were 
giants  in  those  days.  I  like  to  see  great  men  with  great 
souls  in  great  bodies. 

LEE'S  PLEASANT  RETORT  UPON  BISHOP  ASBURY. 

At  the  General  Conference  in  1812,  what  is  called  the 
"  Presiding  Elder"  question  was  discussed.  Some  were  for 
having  the  presiding  elders  appointed  by  the  bishop,  othere 
for  having  them  elected.  Mr.  Lee  was  in  favour  of  the  lat- 
ter, while  Bishop  Asbury  was  as  decided  on  the  other  side. 

Mr.  Asbury,  in  presiding,  would  show  his  opposition  by 
turning  his  back  upon  the  speakers,  and  sitting  with  his 
back  to  the  conference.  Mr.  Lee  made  a  strong  argumenta- 
tive speech,  and  some  one  who  answered  him  remarked  that 
"  no  man  of  common  sense  would  have  adduced  such  argu- 
ments as  Mr.  Lee." 

Mr.  Lee  replied,  "  Our  brother  has  said  no  one  of  common 


251 


sense  would  use  such  arguments.  I  ara,  therefore,  Mr.  Presi- 
dent, compelled  to  believe  the  brother  thinks  me  a  man  of 
uncommon  sense."  "Yes  !  yes !"  said  Bishop  Asbury,  turning 
half  round  in  his  chair,  "  yes  !  yes  !  brother  Lee,  you  are  a 
man  of  uncommon  sense." 

"  Then,  sir,"  said  Mr.  Lee,  quickly  and  pleasantly,  "  then  I 
beg  that  uncommon  attention  may  be  paid  to  what  I  say." 
The  bishop  again  turned  his  face  to  the  wall,  the  conference 
smiling  as  Mr.  Lee  proceeded  to  finish  his  argument. 

LEE'S  RETORT  UPON  THE  CONGRESSMEN. 

Mr.  Lee  having  officiated  as  chaplain  to  Congress,  was  return- 
ing to  Virginia  in  a  stage-coach ;  and  his  fellow-passengers 
were  members  of  Congress  on  their  way  home.  The  road 
was  very  bad ;  the  stage  finally  stuck  fast  in  a  mud-hole, 
and  the  horses  were  unable  to  draw  it  out.  The  passengers 
were  obliged  to  get  out,  and  walk  some  distance,  after  helping 
the  driver  to  get  the  coach  out  of  the  mud.  As  they  took 
their  seats  the  weighty  chaplain  with  his  two  hundred  and 
fifty-nine  pounds  had  not  arrived,  making  slow  progress 
through  the  mud. 

When  he  took  his  seat  one  of  them  asked,  "  where  the 
chaplain  was  when  they  were  getting  the  coach  out  of  the 
mud?"  They  laughed  heartily,  enjoying  the  joke  at  the  ex- 
pense of  the  parson.  This  he  bore  with  a  very  good  grace 
till  another  saicJ,  "  It  was  rather  unkind  of  their  chaplain  to 
stay  with  them  when  all  was  quiet  and  smooth,  and  then  de- 
sert them  as  the  storm  and  trial  came  on."  "  Ah,  gentle- 
men," said  Mr.  Lee, "  I  intended  to  help  you,  but  some  of  you 
swore  so  hard,  I  went  behind  a  tree  and  prayed  for  you." 
There  was  a  solemn  pause. 

The  remark  was  so  true,  and  the  rebuke  so  faithful  and 
bold,  that  they  concluded  to  have  no  more  fun  at  his  expense, 
and  that  he  should  have  no  cause  to  reprove  them  for  pro- 
fanity during  the  remainder  of  the  homeward  journey. 


258  THE  HEROES  OF  METHODISM. 


LEE  AND  THE  COLOURED  PREACHER. 

An  amusing  circumstance  occurred  at  Lynchburg,  Virginia, 
during  the  session  of  the  conference  in  1808.  Lynchburg 
was  not  paved,  and  the  streets  were  so  muddy  that  they  were 
almost  impassable.  Mr.  Lee  having  some  business  on  the 
opposite  side  of  the  street,  was  exceedingly  puzzled  to  find  a 
place  where  he  could  cross  in  safety.  He  stood  looking  up 
and  down  to  see  if  there  was  any  better  place  where  he  could 
cross  over,  but  he  looked  in  vain. 

He  stood  reasoning  with  himself,  w^hether  he  would  try 
to  ford  the  mud  nearly  knee  deep,  or  give  up  the  object  of 
pursuit.  While  in  this  quandary,  John  Chareston,  a  large 
stout  negro,  a  preacher  of  great  acceptability  and  usefulness, 
came  up.  He  had  been  emancipated  by  that  excellent  man, 
Rev.  Stith  Mead,  after  which  he  travelled  very  extensively, 
preaching  deliverance  to  the  captives.  He  was  a  great  ad- 
mirer of  Mr.  Lee,  and  came  to  his  assistance  on  this  day  of 
muddy  trial  in  Lynchburg.  John  proposed  removing  the 
difiBculties  by  "  toting"  Mr.  Lee  across  on  his  back. 

Mr.  Lee  instantly  accepted  the  offer,  and  got  upon  the  back 
of  his  noble  friend.  Two  hundred  and  fifty-nine  pounds  of 
living  flesh  is  no  small  load ;  but  John  bore  it  till  he  reached 
the  middle  of  the  street,  where  he  paused  to  overcome  the 
attraction  of  gravitation  by  trying  to  elevate  his  passenger 
higher  upon  his  shoulders.  Large  drops  of  perspiration  stood 
upon  his  sable  cheeks  and  forehead,  and  he  groaned  audibly ; 
but  he  reeled  on,  paused,  and  dryly  asked  his  rider  if  he  might 
not  sit  him  down  and  rest  a  spell.  Gathering  up  strength 
for  another  effort,  he  pressed  on  ;  but,  turning  up  the  corner 
of  his  eye  until  he  saw  the  face  of  Mr.  Lee,  he  groaned  out, 
"  0,  wretched  man  that  I  am,  who  shall  deliver  me  from  this 
body  of  death  ?"  Mr.  Lee  responded,  quick  as  thought,  "  You 
do  groan,  being  burdened."  Dry  land  soon  appeared,  much 
to  the  joy  of  both  parties.  ' 


259 


LEE  TURNING  THE  WORLD  UPSIDE  DOWN. 

During  the  session  of  the  Virginia  Conference,  held  in 
Newbern,  North  Carohna,  Mr.  Lee  preached  a  sermon,  which 
is  still  remembered  and  talked  of  by  the  oldest  inhabitants. 
His  text  was  Acts  xvii,  6 :  "  These  that  have  turned  the 
world  upside  down,  are  come  hither  also."  His  propositions 
were  singular,  original,  and  well  calculated  to  secure  the 
attention  of  the  multitude  that  listened  to  him  on  that  mem- 
orable occasion.  He  showed,  ] .  That  when  God  made  the 
world,  he  placed  it  right-side  up.  2.  That  by  the  introduc- 
tion of  sin  it  had  been  turned  upside  down.  3.  That  it  is 
the  business  of  the  ministry  to  turn  it  back  again  to  its 
original  position.  From  these  words  he  taught  the  whole 
plan  of  saving  mercy.  The  propositions  were  quaint,  but 
the  sermon  was  one  of  unusual  power ;  but  a  singularly 
visible  effect  was  attributed  to  it  by  certain  men  mighty  in 
works  of  darkness. 

The  next  morning  the  town,  throughout  all  its  parts,  pre- 
sented a  laughable  spectacle  of  things  "  upside  down."  Car- 
riages and  all  kinds  of  vehicles  were  bottom  up ;  boats, 
drawn  from  the  water,  were  lying  about,  keel  uppermost; 
small  houses  upturned  ;  signs,  boxes,  gates,  wrong-end  fore- 
most and  upside  down ;  in  a  word,  everything  out  of  fix,  and 
the  whole  town  was  one  scene  of  confusion.  Some  were 
vexed  at  the  injuries  they  had  sustained,  others  were  put  to 
trouble  and  inconvenience ;  but  all  seemed  to  enjoy  the  joke, 
especially  when  the  supposed  actors  insisted  that  it  was  all 
done  by  the  preachers :  Did  n't  the  preachers  say  they 
were  the  men  "that  turned  the  world  upside  down?"  and 
had  they  not  come  here  to  put  the  town  "right-side  up?" 
This  was  giving  his  sermon  a  practical  application  nev(* 
contemplated  by  the  preacher,  and  which  is  still  remeiL 
Dered  by  the  aged  people  of  Newbern. 


260 


THE  HEROES  OF  METHODISM. 


LEE  AND  THE  GENTLEMAN  ^^VHO  WAS  STANDING  IN 
HIS  OWN  LIGHT. 

Mr.  Lee  spent  a  night  at  Farmington,  Connecticut,  with  a 
Mr.  Reed.  During  the  day's  ride  his  saddle-girth  had 
broken ;  and,  in  the  true  Methodist  preacher's  style  of  the 
times,  soon  after  reaching  the  house,  he  sat  down  to  repair 
it.  While  thus  engaged  near  a  window,  his  host  came  and 
stood  at  his  side.  Mr.  Lee,  always  seeking  to  do  good,  and 
to  turn  everything  to  godly  edifying,  said,  "Mr.  Reed,  did 
you  ever  stand  in  your  own  light  ?"  The  gentleman  sup- 
posed he  had  come  between  Mr.  Lee  and  the  light;  and 
the  question  was  repeated  in  a  grave  and  deliberate  tone  of 
voice.  Suddenly  perceiving  the  object  of  the  question,  and 
feeling  its  force,  he  replied  with  great  emotion :  "  Yes,  sir, 
all  my  life  I  have  been  standing  in  the  light  of  my  own 
peace  and  happiness."  This  question,  suggested  by  the 
employment  of  the  moment,  had  a  powerful  effect  upon  the 
mind  and  life  of  Mr.  Reed.  It  elicited  reflection  ;  and  in  a 
sliort  time  he  made  an  open  profession  of  religion,  lived  to 
adorn  the  Gospel  of  God  his  Saviour,  and  died  in  the  full 
assurance  of  faith.  "No  wonder,"  Mr.  Lee's  nephew  and 
biographer  adds,  "so  strange,  to  some  who  find  it,  are  the 
means  of  salvation.  The  instruments,  how  very  weak,  the 
eflfects  how  glorious  and  godlike !  A  grain  of  mustard  seed 
may  produce  a  tree,  beneath  whose  branches  the  birds  of 
paradise  may  sing  the  new  song,  in  strains  always  new,  and 
always  transporting." — Life  of  Jesse  Lee. 

LEE  CRACKING  A  BONE. 

Dr.  Thomas  E.  Bond  informed  me  that  he  heard  the  Rev. 
Jesse  Lee  preach  in  Baltimore  a  few  years  before  his  death, 
on  "justification  by  faith,"  from,  "Therefore  being  justified 
by  faith,  we  have  peace  with  God,  through  our  Lord  Jesus 


261 


Christ."  He  commenced  with,  "  And  what  is  the  old  fellow 
going  to  do  with  that  old  bone,  which  has  had  the  meat 
all* picked  off  many  years  ago?  I'll  tell  you,"  said  he, 
"  what  he  is  going  to  do  with  it.  He  is  going  to  crack  the 
bone,  and  give  you  the  marrow."  This  quaint  manner  secured 
their  attention  at  once,  while  he  gave  a  clear  exposition  of  that 
"wholesome  doctrine,"  which  is  so  "full  of  comfort,"  and 
which  honours  God,  humbles  man,  and  places  the  crown 
upon  the  Redeemer's  brow. 

LEE  AND  THE  ANGRY  GENERAL. 

Some  few  years  since  a  nephew  of  Mr.  Lee,  engaged  in 
some  business  transaction  in  a  store  in  Petersburgh,  Virginia, 
and  being  addressed  as  Mr.  Lee,  attracted  the  attention  of 
an  aged  gentleman.  General  P.,  at  the  same  time  in  the 
store,  who  immediately  accosted  him,  and  asked  if  he  was  a 
kinsman  of  the  Rev.  Jesse  Lee.  On  being  informed  that  he 
was  a  nephew,  the  old  general  said  he  had  long  desired  to 
see  some  member  of  the  old  minister's  family,  in  order  to 
communicate  a  circumstance  that  once  occurred  between 
himself  and  Mr.  Lee.  On  being  told  that  it  would  afford 
him  pleasure  to  hear  anything  concerning  his  venerable 
relative,  the  old  general  proceeded  to  relate  in  substance  the 
following  narrative : 

"When  I  was  a  young  man,  I  went  to  hear  Mr.  Lee 

preach  at    meeting-house.    There  was  a  very  large 

crowd  in  attendance,  and  a  great  many  could  not  get  in  the 
house.  Among  others  I  got  near  the  door,  and,  being  fond 
of  frolic,  I  indulged  in  some  indiscretion,  for  which  Mr.  Lee 
mildly  but  plainly  reproved  me.  In  an  instant  all  the 
bad  feelings  of  my  heart  were  roused.  I  was  deeply  in- 
sulted, and  felt  that  my  whole  family  was  disgraced.  I  retired 
from  the  crowd  to  brood  over  the  insult,  and  meditate  re- 
venge. It  was  not  long  before  I  resolved  to  whip  him  before 
he  left  the  ground.  I  kept  the  resolution  to  myself,  and 
watched,  with  eager  intensity  of  resentment,  the  opportunity 


262  THE  HEROES  OF  METHODISM. 


to  put  it  in  execution.  How  he  escaped  me  I  could  never 
learn.  I  looked  on  every  hand,  scrutinized  every  departing 
group,  but  saw  nothing  of  the  man  I  was  resolved  to  wTiip. 
I  went  home  sullep,  mortified,  and  filled  with  revenge.  My 
victim  had  escaped  me ;  but  '  I  nursed  my  wrath  to  keep  it 
warm,'  and  cherished  the  determination  to  put  it  in  execution 
the  first  time  I  saw  Mr.  Lee,  although  long  years  should 
intervene.  Gradually,  however,  my  feelings  subsided,  and 
my  impressions  of  the  insult  became  weaker  and  less  vivid ; 
and  in  the  lapse  of  a  few  years  the  whole  aflair  faded  away 
from  my  mind.  Thirteen  years  passed  over  me;  and  the 
impetuosity  of  youth  had  been  softened  down  by  the  foot- 
prints of  sober  manhood,  and  gradually  approaching  age.  I 
was  standing  upon  '  the  downhill  of  life.'  On  a  beautiful 
morning  in  the  early  spring,  I  left  my  residence  to  transact 
some  business  in  Petersburgh;  and  on  reaching  the  main 
road  leading  to  town,  I  saw,  a  few  hundred  yards  before  me, 
an  elderly-looking  man,  jogging  slowly  along  in  a  single  gig. 
As  soon  as  I  saw  him,  it  struck  me,  that 's  Jesse  Lee.  The 
name,  the  man,  the  sight  of  him,  recalled  all  ray  recollec- 
tions of  the  insult,  and  all  my  purposes  of  resentment.  I 
strove  to  banish  them  all  from  my  mind.  I  reasoned  on 
the  long  years  that  had  intervened  since  the  occurrence,  the 
impropriety  of  thinking  of  revenge,  and  the  folly  of  executing 
a  purpose  formed  in  anger,  and  after  so  long  a  lapse  of  time ; 
but  the  more  I  thought  the  warmer  I  became.  My  resolution 
stared  me  in  the  face ;  and  something  whispered  '  coward  ' 
in  my  heart  if  I  failed  to  fulfil  it.  My  mind  was  in  a  perfect 
tumult,  and  my  passions  waxed  strong.  I  determined  to 
execute  my  resolutions  to  the  utmost ;  and,  full  of  rage,  I 
spurred  my  horse,  and  was  soon  at  the  side  of  the  man 
that  I  felt  of  all  others  I  hated  most.  I  accosted  him 
rather  rudely  with  the  question :  '  Are  you  not  a  Methodist 
preacher  V 

" '  I  pass  for  one,'  was  the  reply,  and  in  a  manner  that 
struck  me  as  vers'  meek. 


JESSC  LEE* 


268 


*'  *  Ain't  your  name  Jesse  Lee  ?' 
"  *  Yes,  that 's  my  name.' 

"  *  Do  you  recollect  preaching  in  the  year  ,  at  

meeting-house  V 
" '  Yes,  very  well.' 

" '  Well,  do  you  recollect  reproving  a  young  man  on  that 
occasion  for  some  misbehaviour  ?' 

"After  a  short  pause  for  recollection,  he  replied,  *I 
do.' 

"  *  Well,'  said  I,  *  I  am  that  young  man ;  and  I  determined 
that  I  would  whip  you  for  it  the  first  time  I  saw  you.  I  have 
never  seen  you  from  that  day  until  this  ;  and  now  I  intend 
to  execute  my  resolution  and  whip  you.' 

"  As  soon  as  I  finished  speaking,  the  old  man  stopped  his 
horse,  and,  looking  me  full  in  the  face,  said:  'You  are  a 
younger  man  than  I  am.  You  are  strong  and  active ;  and 
I  am  old  and  feeble.  I  have  no  doubt  but  if  I  were  disposed 
to  fight,  you  could  whip  me  very  easily,  and  it  would  be 
useless  for  me  to  resist ;  but  as  "a  man  of  God  I  must  not 
strive."  So,  as  you  are  determined  to  whip  me,  if  you  will 
just  wait,  I  will  get  out  of  my  gig,  and  get  down  on  my 
knees,  and  you  may  whip  me  as  long  as  you  please.' 

"Never,"  said  the  old  general,  "was  I  so  suddenly  and 
powerfully  affected.  I  was  completely  overcome.  I  trem- 
bled from  head  to  foot.  I  would  have  given  my  estate  if  I 
had  never  mentioned  the  subject.  A  strange  weakness 
came  over  my  frame.  I  felt  sick  at  heart — ashamed,  mortified, 
and  degraded !  I  struck  my  spurs  into  my  horse,  and  dashed 
along  the  road  with  the  speed  of  a  madman.  What  became 
of  the  good  old  man  I  know  not ;  I  never  saw  him  after  that 
painfully  remembered  morning.  He  has  long  passed  away 
from  the  earth,  and  has  reaped  the  reward  of  the  good,  the 
gentle,  and  useful,  in  a  world  where  '  the  wicked  cease  from 
troubling,  and  the  weary  find  eternal  rest.' 

"  I  am  now  old ;  few  and  full  of  evil  have  been  the  days 
of  the  years  of  my  life,  yet  I  am  not  now  without  hope  in 


264 


THE  HEROES  OF  METHODISM. 


God.  I  have  made  my  peace  with  him  who  is  'the  Judge 
of  quick  and  dead ;'  and  hope,  ere  long,  to  see  that  good 
man  of  God  with  feehngs  very  difierent  from  those  with 
which  I  met  him  last." 

The  old  man  ceased.  A  glow  of  satisfaction  spread  over 
his  features,  and  a  tear  stood  in  his  eyes.  He  seemed  as  if 
a  burden  was  removed  from  his  heart ;  that  he  had  disen- 
cumbered himself  of  a  load  that  had  long  pressed  upon  his 
spirits.  He  had  given  his  secret  to  the  near  relative  of  the 
man  he  had  once  intended  to  injure,  but  whose  memory  he 
now  cherished  with  feelings  akin  to  those  that  unite  the  re- 
deemed to  each  other,  and  bind  the  whole  to  "  the  Father 
of  the  spirits  of  all  flesh." 

LEE  A  CAPTAIN. 

The  following  anecdote  was  related  to  the  Rev.  John  Poisal 
by  one  of  the  old  members  of  the  Church  at  Annapolis, 
Maryland.  Jesse  Lee  was  stationed  there  in  1816,  and  he 
preached  his  first  sermon  from,  "As  captain  of  the  Lord's 
host  have  I  come." 

He  said  it  was  somewhat  singular  that,  travelling  as  exten- 
sively as  he  had  in  almost  every  part  of  the  Union,  he  had 
never  been  in  Annapolis  before,  and,  of  coui-se,  had  never 
preached  there.  Now  that  he  had  been  appointed  to  labour 
among  them,  he  had  come  "  in  the  fulness  of  the  blessing 
of  the  Gospel  of  peace."  He  had  often  heard  of  their  labour 
of  love  and  patience  of  hope,  and  rejoiced  that  he  was  per- 
mitted to  be  with  them.  He  was  glad  to  see  among  them 
some  of  the  middle-aged  and  the  aged,  who  were  pillars  in 
the  Church — who  had  borne  the  burden  and  heat  of  the 
day.  He  anticipated  much  comfort  with  them  ;  there  were 
those  who  could  counsel  him,  and  he  would  be  thankful  for 
any  advice'  they  might  give  him  ;  but,  said  he,  /  want  it  to 
be  remembered  all  the  year  that  I  am  captain. 

Mr.  Lee  was  certainly  right ;  there  should  be  a  captain  to 


265 


every  ship,  a  pastor  to  every  church,  a  principal  in  every 
school,  a  general  in  every  army,  a  judge  in  every  court,  a 
head  to  every  family.  If  there  is  not,  all  will  be  disorder  and 
confusion.  Responsibility  implies  power ;  and  where  a  minis- 
ter has  a  responsibility,  under  which  the  most  gifted  might 
tremble,  reason,  common  sense,  and  philosophy  unitedly  de- 
clare he  should  be  captain. 

LEE  AND  THE  DOGS. 

Mr.  Lee  had  preached  several  times  in  Middlefield,  Connec- 
ticut. On  one  occasion,  while  preaching  there,  some  men 
sitting  in  the  gallery  repeatedly  annoyed  the  congregation 
by  their  profane  levity.  Mr.  Lee  bore  with  it  till  he  was 
satisfied  it  would  be  wrong  to  submit  any  longer ;  but,  just 
as  he  was  about  to  raise  his  voice  in  rebuke,  a  new  disturb- 
ance was  created  that  attracted  the  attention  of  all :  a  panel 
of  the  front  door  of  the  church  had  been  broken  out,  and, 
just  at  the  moment  referred  to,  three  dogs  darted  through 
the  opening,  and  pursuing  each  other  along  the  middle  aisle, 
up  to  the  pulpit,  turned,  and  retreated  through  the  opening 
again.  Before  the  congregation  had  recovered  from  the  sur- 
prise of  this  singular  interruption,  the  dogs  were  again  cours- 
ing along  the  aisle,  up  to  the  pulpit,  and  back  again  through 
the  door.  The  preacher  was  motionless,  the  congregation 
in  a  state  of  uneasy  excitement — provoked  to  laughter,  yet 
daring  only  to  smile — the  party  of  disturbers  in  the  gallery 
overrunning  with  joy  at  the  whole  scene.  In  again  came 
the  dogs,  hurrying  and  yelping  along  the  aisle,  and  away 
into  the  yard  again.  "  Well,"  said  Mr.  Lee,  raising  his  deep, 
sonorous  voice  above  the  titter  that  was  stealing  from  every 
lip  in  the  assembly,  and  sepding  a  quick,  expressive  glance 
of  his  eye  among-  the  original  disturbers  of  the  meeting, 
"  the  devil  must  have  got  into  the  dogs  too  /"  The  gravity 
of  his  manner,  the  structure  of  his  sentence,  and  the  em- 
phasis on  its  last  word,  brought  the  blood  in  burning 


266 


THE  HEROES  OF  METHODISM. 


blushes  to  their  cheeks;  and,  under  the  impression  that  they 
formed  the  focus  of  every  eye  in  the  congregation,  they  slunk 
into  themselves  and  were  still. — Life  and  Times  of  Jesse  Lee. 

LEE  AND  THE  BAPTIST  WOMAN. 

Mr.  Lee  had  preached  in  Saco,  Maine,  and  become  acquainted 
with  a  Baptist  female.  On  a  subsequent  visit  to  that  place, 
in  1794,  he  called  at  her  house  to  have  some  Christian  con- 
versation with  her.  To  his  utter  surprise,  he  found  that  she 
had  gone  to  a  dancing  party,  and  was  not  yet  returned. 
With  sorrow  he  returned  to  the  place  where  he  was  sojourn- 
ing, and,  after  recording  the  fact  in  his  Journal,  very  gravely 
remarks :  "  John  the  Baptist  lost  his  head  by  reason  of  danc- 
ing, and  I  thought  the  Baptists  had  never  been  fond  of 
dancing  from  that  day  to  this." 

LEE'S  LAST  SERMON. 

There  is  something  peculiarly  touching  in  delivering  the  last 
sermon.  At  a  camp-meeting,  near  Hillsborough,  on  the 
eastern  shore  of  Maryland,  on  Saturday  afternoon,  22d 
of  August,  1816,  Mr.  Lee  preached  his  last  sermon,  from  a 
favourite  text :  "But  grow  in  grace."  2  Peter  iii,  18.  It  is 
said,  that  when  he  gave  out  the  text  it  was  in  this  singular 
manner :  "  You  may  find  my  text  in  the  last  epistle  of  Peter, 
the  last  chapter  and  the  last  verse ;  and  I  know  not  but  I 
am  to  preach  my  last  sermon."  It  was  his  last  message  to 
a  lost  world.  The  sermon  was  powerful  and  eflScient,  worthy 
of  the  last  eftbrt  of  one  who  was  standing  upon  the  walls  of 
Zion  for  the  last  time. 


REY.  SAMUEL  BEADBTJIIN. 


12* 


THE  REV.  SAMUEL  BRADBURN. 


"  The  Rev.  Samuel  Bradburn  was  born  in  the  Bay  of  Gibral- 
tar, and  on  the  return  of  his  parents  to  Great  Britain  set- 
tled in  Chester.  When  he  was  young  it  pleased  the  Lord 
to  convince  him  of  the  necessity  of  a  change  of  heart,  and  of 
redemption  through  the  blood  of  the  everlasting  covenant. 
He  became  a  local  preacher  in  1773,  and  an  itinerant  in 
1784.  His  divine  Master  having  endowed  him  with  extra- 
ordinary gifts  for  the  ministry,  he  soon  became  remarkably 
popular,  and  it  was  frequently  with  pleasure  that  thousands 
listened  to  his  discourses.  His  ministry  was  owned  of  God 
for  the  salvation  of  many ;  he  was  considered  not  only  one  of 
the  first  preachers  of  the  land,  for  all  the  higher  powers  of 
persuasive  eloquence,  but  as  a  faithful  labourer  in  the  vine- 
yard of  the  Lord.  For  a  few  of  the  last  years  af  his  life, 
his  strength  and  memory  gradually  failed  him,  but  it  was 
gratifying  to  his  friends  to  observe  that,  as  he  drew  near  to 
the  eternal  world,  he  became  more  spiritually  minded  and 
more  deeply  and  truly  serious.  His  peculiar  vivacity  of 
mind,  which  had  been  frequently  a  source  of  temptation  to 
him,  was  brought  more  fully  under  the  control  of  divine 
grace.  For  several  months  before  his  death,  he  was  not 
able  to  preach  at  all.  On  Wednesday,  July  24th,  1816,  he 
was  seized  with  a  fit,  and  died  on  Friday  morning." —  Wes- 
ley an  Magazine^  1816. 

Mr.  Bradburn  was  majestic  in  his  personal  appearance — 
one  of  nature's  noblemen.  He  was  a  very  eccentric  man, 
and  always  ready  with  wit  and  repartee.  He  was  not  always 
as  dignified  as  a  minister  of  the  Gospel  should  be. 

According  to  the  accounts  given  of  his  preaching,  he  must 


270 


THE  HEROES  OF  METHODISM. 


have  been  unequalled  among  the  great  pulpit  orators  of  his 
day.  There  were  giants  in  those  days,  but  he  stood,  like 
Saul  of  old,  head  and  shoulders  above  his  fellows.  His 
voice  was  like  an  organ,  full,  round,  mellow ;  his  memory  was 
very  retentive,  and  his  imagination  affluent.  "  Few  names," 
says  Mr.  Everett,  "are  more  familiar  to  the  Wesleyan  ear 
than  that  of  Samuel  Bradburn,  who  was  born  and  cradled 
in  the  Bay  of  Gibraltar,  and  whose  ministry  bore  no  insig- 
nificant resemblance  to  the  rocks  which  overhang  it;  dis- 
tinguished for  boldness,  sublimity,  and  picturesque  beauty, 
not  forgetting  the  ocean  that  rocked  him,  as  an  equally  ex- 
pressive emblem  of  the  heavings  and  buffetings  which  he  not 
unfrequently  experienced  on  his  passage  through  life."  To 
show  that  we  have  not  over-estimated  his  eloquence,  we  give 
the  testimony  of  Dr.  Adam  Clarke,  no  mean  judge  of  pulpit 
oratory.  He  said  to  a  young  preacher  who  wished  his 
opinion  concerning  Bradburn,  "  I  have  never  heard  his  equal ; 
I  can  furnish  you  with  no  adequate  idea  of  his  powers  as  an 
orator ;  we  have  not  a  man  among  us  that  will  support  any- 
thing like  a  comparison  with  him.  Another  Bradburn  must 
be  created,  and  you  must  hear  him  for  yourself,  before  you 
can  receive  a  satisfactory  answer  to  your  inquiry."  This  was 
said  when  there  were  mighty  men  in  the  Wesleyan  connexion. 

"  Never,"  says  Mr.  Everett,  "  shall  we  forget  hearing  him 
between  thirty  and  forty  years  ago,  when  a  friend  observed 
to  us,  himself  one  of  the  most  popular  speakers  in  his  day, 
as  we  were  leaving  the  chapel,  *We  may  apply  in  an  ac- 
commodated sense  to  this  speaker,  what  was  said  of  our 
Lord,  '  Never  man  spake  like  this  man.' " 
•  A  minister  of  no  mean  talent  said,  "  He  had  never  heard 
a  preacher  superior  to  Samuel  Bradburn.  He  was  rich  in 
sublimity,  in  mighty,  grasping  thoughts  and  melting  pathos, 
and  yet  mingled  with  the  whole,  in  the  strongest  contrasts, 
an  exhaustless  wit,' 


SAMUEL  BRADBURN. 


211 


BRADBURN  AND  THE  POET. 

Before  a  sermon  which  Samuel  Bradburu  was  about  to 
preach,  he  gave  out  the  hymn  commencing, 

'  Ah !  lovely  appearance  of  death, 
What  sight  upon  earth  is  so  fair,'  &c, 

"  What  business  has  this  hymn  in  our  book,  containing  a 
sentiment  so  false?  *  Ah !  lovely  appearance  of  death,'  when 
there  is  nothing  lovely  about  it.  Why  did  Abraham's  beloved 
and  beautiful  Sarah,  when  she  died,  become  so  unlovely  that 
he  called  his  friends  together  to  '  bury  her  out  of  his  sight?' " 

This  was  one  of  Charles  Wesley's  beautiful  hymns.  It 
still  remains  in  "  Wesley's  Hymns,"  and  is  sung  in  England. 
The  revisers  of  our  Hymn-Book  show  that  they  concur  in 
Mr.  Bradburn's  criticism,  and  have  omitted  it.  But  I  have 
sometimes  thought  there  was  truth  in  those  lines — 

"  In  love  v^ith  the  beautiful  clay, 
And  longing  to  lie  in  its  stead." 

We,  however,  have  no  reason  to  regret  the  omission,  as  most 
of  the  hymn  is  retained,  concerning  whose  truth  and  beauty 
there  can  be  no  diversity  of  opinion.  It  is  the  108 Yth  hymn 
in  the  last  edition  of  the  Methodist  Hymn-Book,  and  com- 
mences, 

"  How  blest  is  our  brother,  bereft 
Of  all  that  could  burden  his  mind,"  &c. 

BRADBURN  AND  THE  GOWN. 


The  Wesleyan  Conference  of  1802  was  held  in  Leeds.  Wil- 
liam Dawson  attended  it,  in  order  to  hear  the  distinguished 


272  THE  HEROES  OF  METHODISM. 

men  of  the  connexion.  He  says,  "  Mr.  Bradburn  preached,  as 
on  former  occasions,  in  the  chapel  occupied  by  Rev.  Edward 
Parsons.  But  it  was  the  last  time  he  appeared  there,"  said 
Mr.  Dawson  to  Mr.  Everett,  when  relating  the  circumstance 
of  his  having  heard  him  on  the  occasion,  and  "  no  wonder. 
He  had  preached  delightfully ;  but  on  coming  out  of  the 
vestry,  when  a  person  was  about  to  assist  him  off  with  the 
gown,  he  assumed  one  of  his  queer  looks,  doubled  his  elbows 
by  his  side,  clenched  his  hands  before  his  breast,  having 
taken  a  portion  of  the  gown  in  each,  then  suddenly  sending 
forward  his  elbows,  and  shooting  out  his  back  at  the  same 
time,  rent  it  from  the  shoulders  downward,  making  an  open- 
ing sufficient  for  him  to  escape  by,  without  the  necessity  of 
seeking  egress  in  the  ordinary  way.  It  was  a  most  unmin- 
isterial  act.  The  friends  felt  the  insult ;  and  as  to  himself, 
after  the  mood  was  over,  he  had  the  full  space  of  time  for 
repentance,  which  intervened  betAveen  the  act  itself  and  the 
grave." — Life  of  Dawson. 

BRADBURN"  AND  DR.  ADAM  CLARKE. 

In  1790  Mr.  Clarke  was  stationed  with  Mr.  Bradburn  in 
Manchester.  Mr.  Clarke  was  at  Flixton,  whence  he  had 
previously  promised  to  return  after  preaching.  It  was 
winter,  and  the  evening  closed  in  with  a  heavy  snow-storm. 
Mr.  John  Wood,  with  whom  the  preachers  domiciled  in  that 
part  of  the  circuit,  persuaded  Mr.  Clarke  to  tarry  till  morn- 
ing. Mrs.  Clarke,  knowing  her  husband's  punctuality,  be- 
came uneasy  lest  he  should  have  braved  the  storm,  and  lost 
his  way  in  the  wildness  of  the  night.  She  went  into  Mr. 
Bradburn's  two  or  three  times.  He  had  retired  to  rest ;  but 
perceiving,  from  what  Mrs.  Bradburn  had  said,  the  state  of 
mind  in  which  Mrs.  Clarke  was,  he  immediately,  on  her 
leaving  the  house,  most  kindly  arose,  took  a  lantern,  and 
calling  on  a  friend,  they  proceeded  through  the  almost  im- 
passable lanes,  narrowly  examining  every  ditch  with  which 


SAMUEL  BRADBURN. 


279 


he  was  acquainted,  as  they  passed  along.  They  arrived  at 
the  house  of  John  Wood  about  twelve  o'clock  at  night, 
jaded,  wet,  and  weather-beaten,  having  travelled  several 
miles.  Knocking  up  the  family,  and  gaining  admittance, 
Mr.  Bradburn  ordered  Mr.  Clarke  down  stairs  with  jocose 
authority ;  when,  after  a  few  words  of  explanation,  they  set 
out,  and  footed  their  way  through  the  storm  to  Manchester. 
On  arriving  at  the  house  of  Mr.  Clarke,  about  two  o'clock 
in  the  morning,  Mr.  Bradburn,  with  the  frolic  of  youth, 
pushed  him  into  the  doorway  before  him,  and  said  to  Mrs. 
Clarke,  "  There  he  is  for  you,  take  hin> ;"  then  instantly 
turning  on  his  heel,  he  repaired  to  his  own  house,  to  repose 
himself  on  the  couch  he  had  left  a  few  hours  before,  lost  to 
the  dreary  interval,  with  its  pains  and  perils. 


BRADBURN  AND  ROBERT  ROBINSON. 

The  interesting  account  which  follows  was  originally  com- 
municated by  a  Methodist  minister  to  the  British  Wesleyan 
Magazine : 

"  The  following  circumstance  occurred  at  the  district- 
meeting  at  which  I  and  ten  others  were  examined  as  candi- 
dates for  the  Wesleyan  ministry,  the  Rev.  Samuel  Bradburn 
being  the  chairman : 

"  When  the  examination  was  concluded,  several  of  the 
senior  ministers  present  gave  us  advice  on  different  subjects. 
The  late  Mr.  Gaulter  particularly  advised  us  to  read  '  Robert 
Robinson's  Plea  for  the  Divinity  of  Jesus.'  He  said  it  was 
one  of  the  best  books  ever  written  on  the  subject,  though, 
unhappily,  its  author  afterward  '  fell  into  the  dregs  of  So- 
cinianism.'  On  hearing  this  expression,  the  chairman  rose ; 
a  flush  of  feeling  came  over  his  countenance,  his  lip  quivered, 
and  he  was  evidently  strongly  agitated.  At  length  he  address- 
ed the  meeting,  as  nearly  as  I  can  recollect,  in  the  following 
words.    The  few  who  knew  Mr.  Bradburn  will  be  able  to 


2*74  THE  HEROES  OF  METHODISM. 


conjecture  how  bespoke  them.  To  them  who  did  not  know 
him,  a  descnption  of  his  manner  would  be  vainly  attempted. 
They  were  spoken  with  all  his  own  peculiar  emphasis :  '  I 
knew  Mr.  Robinson  well.  He  was  my  particular  friend.  He 
trifled  sadly  with  sacred  truth.  He  was  playful  where  he 
should  have  been  serious.  He  got  to  the  very  brink  of 
heresy.  But  he  did  not  fall  into  the  dregs  of  Socinianism. 
I  remember  the  last  time  he  came  to  London.  He  was  on 
his  way  to  visit  Dr.  Priestley  at  Birmingham.  He  had  en- 
gaged to  preach  on  the  Sunday  night  for  Daniel  Taylor,  and 
I  thought  I  should  like  to  see  him  once  more.  I  asked  Dr. 
Whitehead  if  he  would  accompany  me,  and  he  said  he  would. 
I  had  to  preach  that  Sunday  night  at  City-road ;  but  I  made 
the  whole  service  short.  I  preached  one  of  Mr.  Wesley's 
sermons.  We  had  a  hackney-coach  ready ;  and  when  I 
had  done,  we  set  oflf.  We  heard  the  latter  part  of  the  ser- 
mon; and  when  the  congregation  was  dismissed,  we  went 
into  the  vestry.  After  speaking  a  word  or  two.  Dr.  White- 
head said,  "Mr.  Robinson,  will  you  answer  me  a  question  ?" 
"  I  will,  if  I  can,"  he  replied.  "  Well,  then,  if  you  had  it  to 
do  now,  would  you  publish  your  Plea  for  the  Divinity  of 
Jesus  P  He  paused  a  moment,  looked  very  serious,  and  then 
said,  slowly  and  solemnly,  "  Doctor,  I  would."  From  Lon- 
don he  went  to  Birmingham,  to  see  Dr.  Priestley.  His 
friends  had  often  felt  grieved  that  he  seemed  to  hold  lightly 
what  they  held  as  sacred.  He  preached  for  the  doctor.  I 
know  that  he  had  often  said  that  he  hoped  he  should  die 
quietly,  suddenly,  and  alone.  And  so  it  was.  He  was  found 
in  the  morning  dead  in  his  bed,  and  the  clothes  unruflBed.' 
The  speaker  paused  for  a  few  moments,  and  then  said,  with 
a  look  and  tone  never  to  be  forgotten  by  those  who  were 
present,  '  He  had  trifled  too  much  with  sacred  things ;  and 
I  verily  beheve  that  God  Almighty  sent  the  angel  of  death 
thus  to  cut  him  down  to  save  his  soul  from  hell !'  " 


SAMUEL  BRADBURN. 


275 


BRADBURN  AND  DAWSON.  . 

William  Dawson,  before  he  became  a  local  preacher,  having 
heard  of  the  fame  of  Bradburn  as  an  orator,  went  to  Leeds 
in  1793  to  hear  him.  He  preached  in  the  Rev.  Edward 
Parsons's  church.  His  commanding  figure,  powdered 
hair,  and  advanced  age,  at  once  fixed  Dawson's  eye  and 
captivated  his  heart.  The  subject  was  the  kingly  office  of 
Christ.  It  was  a  masterly  performance,  and  Mr.  Dawson 
was  filled  with  admiration. 

Mr.  Bradburn,  on  giving  out  the  last  hymn,  inclined  his 
person  over  the  front  of  the  pulpit,  and  looking  to  the  pre- 
centor, who  either  had  not  pleased  him,  or  preferring  it  for 
some  private  reason,  said,  "  I  will  give  out  the  last  two  verses 
myself."    He  read, 

"  The  government  of  earth  and  seas 

Upon  his  shoulders  shall  be  laid, 
His  wide  dominion  shall  increase, 

And  honours  to  his  name  be  paid. 

Jesus,  the  holy  child,  shall  sit 

High  on  his  father  David's  throne, 

Shall  crush  his  foes  beneath  his  feet. 
And  reign  to  ages  yet  unknown." 

Dawson  had  never  heard  these  words  before,  and  yet 
Bradburn's  manner  of  repeating  them  caused  him  ever  after 
to  remember  them. 

The  specimen  of  simple,  free,  powei-ful,  and  impassioned 
oratory  which  he  had  in  Mr.  Bradburn,  gave  him  a  more 
favourable  opinion  of  the  Wesleyan  preachers,  and  a  more 
kindly  bearing  toward  the  body.  Before  this  he  had  been 
leaning  strongly  toward  the  Estabhshed  Church. —  William 
Dawson. 

BRADBURN'S  POETRY. 

Mr.  Bradburn  was  a  shoemaker  in  early  life,  like  Samuel 
Drew,  and  many  others,  who  have  risen  to  distinction  in  the 


216 


THE  HEROES  OF  METHODISM. 


world.  He  never  forgot  his  former  calling,  and  never  was 
ashamed  of  jt. 

Mr.  Bradburn  had  the  confidence  of  his  brethren,  and  they 
manifested  it  by  electing  him  President  of  the  Wesleyan 
Conference  which  was  held  in  Bristol  in  1798.  During  one 
of  its  sessions,  Dr.  Adam  Clarke  went  to  speak  to  him  as  he 
sat  in  the  president's  chair,  and  found  that  he  had  just  turn- 
ed poet.  Being  in  one  of  his  pleasant  moods,  he  had  just 
written  the  following  verses  on  the  "  OfiSce  of  Conference 
President :" 

Exalted  in  Dignity  high, 

To  write  for  this  wonderful  crew  ; 
No  Cobbler  at  present  am  I, 

Pray,  therefore,  take  care  what  you  do. 
My  Kit,  though  some  time  laid  aside, 

I  can  still  with  dexterity  use  ; 
And  like  Leather  I'll  cut  up  your  Hide, 

K  you  dare  my  high  oflBce  abuse. 

My  Tools  are  all  made  of  good  stuff. 

Well  wax'd  and  well  bristled  my  End ; 
And  my  Awls  will  make  holes  in  your  Buff, 

Unless  you  to  business  attend. 
My  Pincers  will  hold  very  fast. 

My  Nippers  the  Jack-heads  can  pull ; 
And  if  I'm  in  want  of  a  Last, 

I  can  easily  work  on  your  skulL 

My  Lapstone  the  stroke  can  endure, 

My  Hammer  well-temper'd  and  sound ; 
The  Faults  in  the  Leather  can  cure. 

And  make  it  wear  well  on  the  ground; 
My  Sticks  make  the  Soles  and  Hides  shine, 

When  with  Paste  I  them  thoroughly  rub; 
And  should  you  to  the  Baptists  incline, 

I  will  give  you  a  Dip  in  the  Tub, 

BRADBURN  AND  AN  OPPOSING  CLERGYMAN. 

Samuel  Bradburn  having  heard  that  a  clergyman  of  the 
Establishment,  who  was  a  magistrate,  residing  in  a  small 


SAMUEL  BRADBURN. 


277 


town  in  one  of  his  circuits,  had  violently  opposed  the  intro- 
duction of  Methodism  into  his  parish,  resolved,  if  possible,  to 
defeat  him  in  his  opposition.  Various  attempts  had  been 
made  by  the  Methodist  preachers  to  preach  there,  but  with- 
out eftect ;  the  ministers  having,  as  was  common  in  the 
early  days  of  Methodism,  been  driven  off  by  the  mob,  head- 
ed by  the  clergyman.  Mr.  Bradburn,  however,  was  deter- 
mined to  make  an  attempt,  and  sent  to  a  few  poor  Method- 
ists in  the  neighbourhood,  requesting  that  they  would  publish 
around  that  a  stranger  would  preach  on  a  large  stone,  in  the 
centre  of  the  town,  on  a  certain  Sabbath  day,  at  three  o'clock, 
which  they  did  ;  and  the  clergyman  being  informed  of  it,  as 
usual,  ordered  constables  and  others  to  be  in  readiness  at  the 
place  to  arrest  the  preacher,  or  drive  him  off.  Of  this  Mr. 
Bradburn  was  apprised ;  but  not  being  in  the  least  intimi- 
dated, he  went  to  the  place  on  the  day  appointed,  and  with- 
out making  himself  known  to  any  person  there,  he  attended 
the  morning  service  at  Church  ;  placed  himself  in  a  conspic- 
uous situation,  so  as  to  attract  the  notice  of  the  clergyman  ; 
and,  when  the  service  was  closed,  he  went  up  to  him  on  his 
way  out,  accosted  him  as  a  brother,  and  thanked  him  for  his 
sermon.  The  clergyman,  judging,  from  his  appearance  and 
address,  that  he  was  a  minister  of  some  note,  gave  him  an 
invitation  to  dinner,  which  Mr.  Bradburn  thankfully  accept- 
ed ;  and  having  entertained  him  until  dinner  was  over  with 
his  extraordinary  powers  of  conversation,  he  said  that  he 
should  like  to  go  to  the  preaching  which  was  to  take  place 
in  the  open  air  in  that  town,  at  three  o'clock,  and  asked  the 
clergyman  if  he  would  accompany  him.  He  replied,  that 
he  intended  to  go  there,  not,  indeed,  for  the  purpose  of  hear- 
ing the  preacher,  but  to  take  him  into  custody,  and  to  put  a 
stop  to  the  service.  Mr.  Bradburn,  however,  begged  him  to 
desist  from  his  purpose,  and  succeeded  in  inducing  him  to 
go  and  give  the  preacher  a  candid  hearing.  They  therefore 
walked  together  to  the  spot,  where  they  found  a  large  com- 
pany assembled,  who,  on  seeing  them  approach,  made  way 


278 


THE  HEROES  OF  METHODISM. 


for  them  until  they  got  to  the  stone;  where,  after  waiting  in 
silence  some  time,  the  clergyman  said  he  thought  that  the 
preacher  would  not  come,  and  that  it  was  best  to  dismiss 
the  people !  Mr.  Bradburn  said,  he  thought  it  would  be  a 
pity  to  disappoint  them,  and  highly  improper  to  neglect  so 
favourable  an  opportunity  of  doing  good,  and  urged  the  cler- 
gyman to  preach  to  them.  But  he  excused  himself,  saying 
he  had  no  sermon  ready,  and  asked  Mr,  Bradburn  to  address 
them,  which,  of  course,  he  readily  consented  to  do,  and  com- 
menced the  service  by  singing  part  of  the  first  hymn  in  the 
Methodist  Hymn-Book  ;  and,  after  praying,  delivered  an  im- 
pressive discourse,  from  Acts  v,  38,  39  :  "  And  now  I  say 
unto  you.  Refrain  from  these  men,  and  let  them  alone  :  for  if 
this  counsel  or  this  work  be  of  men,  it  will  come  to  naught : 
but  if  it  be  of  God,  ye  cannot  overthrow  it ;  lest  haply  ye  be 
found  even  to  fight  against  God."  This  not  only  deeply 
afi'ected  the  people,  but  so  delighted  the  clergyman,  that, 
although  he  knew,  as  the  service  proceeded,  that  he  had  been 
duped,  he  heartily  thanked  Mr.  Bradburn  for  the  deception 
he  had  practised  on  him,  and  ever  after,  to  the  day  of  his 
death,  entertained  the  Methodist  preachers  at  his  house. — 
George  Brereton. 


BRADBUEN  AND  BETTY  THE  SERVANT  GIRL. 

The  Rev.  Thomas  H.  Smith  says  this  anecdote  was  related 
to  him  by  the  Rev.  John  Wesley  Button,  one  of  the  old 
preachers  in  England :  "  Mr.  Bradburn  was  appointed  to 
preach  a  jubilee  sermon  in  reference  to  King  George  the 
Third.  Weeks  rolled  away  after  he  was  appointed,  and  he 
could  not  fix  his  mind  on  any  text.  The  last  week,  the  last 
day,  the  last  hour,  and  the  last  moment  arrived,  and  no  text. 
For  days  and  nights  he  had  been  in  the  utmost  perplexity 
and  anxiety.  With  a  throbbing  heart  and  trembling  nerves  he 
put  on  his  cloak,  and  was  proceeding  to  the  chapel,  which  was 


SAMUEL  BRADBURN. 


thronged  to  hear  the  'Demosthenes  of  Methodism'  on  a 
suhject  of  such  intense  interest — one  that  would  call  into  ex- 
ercise all  the  powers  of  his  imperial  intellect,  and  all  his 
powers  of  eloquence.  When  he  reached  the  door,  he  met 
his  servant  girl,  and  said  to  her,  'Betty,  can  you  not  give 
me  a  text  from  which  to  preach  the  jubilee  sermon  to- 
day V  '  0  yes !'  said  Betty,  '  Mr.  Bradburn,  take  this :  "  O 
king,  live  forever  !"'  'Just  the  thing,'  said  Mr.  Bradburn  ; 
*  I  '11  take  it.'  His  anxiety  was  all  gone,  his  embarrassment 
removed ;  the  servant  girl  had  relieved  him  from  a  difficulty. 
He  went  to  the  house  of  God,  and  delivered  one  of  the  most 
eloquent  and  impressive  sermons  man  ever  preached  or 
listened  to.  Mr.  Bradburn  on  that  day  excelled  himself. 
He  felt  under  a  lifetime  obligation  to  Betty  for  the  appropriate 
text  she  furnished  him  with  for  such  a  momentous  occasion." 


BRADBURN  AND  BENSON. 

On  one  occasion,  at  the  examination  of  character  in  the 
Wesley  an  Conference,  there  were  a  number  of  men  that  were 
large  and  weighty,  who  looked  as  if  they  lived  well,  and  as 
if  their  work  agreed  with  them.  Among  them  were  Brad- 
burn, Bardsley,  and  many  others.  Mr.  Benson  was  always 
thin  and  spare,  and  was  sometimes  a  little  toucliy  or  nervous. 
He  said,  "Some  of  the  preachers  were  so  fleshy  that  they 
could  not  do  their  work  very  well,  or  he  was  sure  they  would 
not  be  so  large."  Mr.  Bradburn  arose  with  a  smile  upon  his 
countenance,  and  said,  "  They  were  not  in  such  good  order 
because  they  neglected  their  work,  but  because  they  were 
so  good  natured ;  if  Mr.  Benson  was  only  as  good  natured 
as  we  are,  he  would  not  be  as  poor  as  he  now  is — he  would 
get  fleshy  too."  The  retort  was  so  admirable,  the  hit  so  good, 
that  the  whole  conference  was  convulsed  with  laughter,  in 
which  Mr.  Benson  joined  as  heartily  as  any  of  them. 


280 


THE  HEEOES  OF  METHODISM. 


BRADBURN  AND  SAMUEL  BARDSLEY. 

Bradburn  sometimes  indulged  in  sallies  of  wit  with  Samuel 
Bardsley,  who  was  himself  a  character.  He  was  a  man  of 
extraordinary  size,  clothed  in  homely  attire.  He  was  the 
personification  of  simplicity  and  almost  kindness  embodied. 

"Come,  come,  Sammy,"  said  Mr.  Bardsley  to  him, 
"recollect  that,  though  you  may  have  many  brethren, 
you  have  but  one  father  in  the  Gospel."  He  was  Mr. 
Bradburn's  spiritual  father.  Pleasantry  disappeared;  wit 
and  repartee  were  at  an  end.  That  moment  Mr.  Bradburn 
started  from  his  seat,  threw  his  arms  around  the  neck  of 
Mr.  Bardsley,  and,  while  the  tears  gushed  from  his  eyes  and 
rolled  down  his  cheeks,  at  the  recollection  of  bygone  days 
and  bygone  scenes,  with  a  trembling  voice  and  with  deep 
feeling  exclaimed,  w^hile  putting  his  arms  around  his  neck, 
and  hanging  on  him  with  the  doating  fondness  of  a  child, 
"The  Lord  knows  I  love  you  in  the  Gospel  next  to  ray 
Saviour."  However,  the  scene  would  soon  change.  In  the 
course  of  an  hour — such  was  his  fine  flow  of  spirits,  his 
cheerfulness,  his  vivacity — he  would  again  be  in  a  mood  for 
pleasantry  ;  but  as  innocent  as  a  lamb,  as  harmless  as  a  dove, 
and  as  unsuspecting  as  innocence  itself. 

He  was  walking  the  streets  of  SheflBeld  with  Mr.  Bardsley 
on  one  occasion — both  of  them  men  of  gigantic  size,  arm 
locked  in  arm — puffing,  blowing,  sighing,  perspiring,  under 
the  scorching  rays  of  an  August  sun.  A  friend  met  them  ; 
they  paused,  and,  as  Mr.  Bradburn  wiped  the  great  thick 
drops  from  his  brow,  he  exclaimed,  "  Here  we  are,  the  two 
babes  of  the  wood,"  alluding  to  the  childlike  simplicity 
which  distinguished  the  life  and  manners  of  his  "  true  yoke- 
fellow." 


SAMUEL  BEADBURN. 


281 


BRADBURN'S  RETORT  ON  WESLEY. 

Something  unpleasant  had  occurred  between  Thomas  Olivers 
and  Mr.  Bradburn.  It  was  brought  up  at  conference  to 
have  the  matter  adjusted. 

"  Brother  Bradburn,"  said  Mr.  Wesley,  "  you  do  not  love 
Tommy  Olivers."  "Sir,"  returned  Mr.  Bradburn,  "I  love 
him  as  much  as  you  do  John  Hajnpson."  This  was  a  sudden 
and  unexpected  retort.  Mr.  Wesley  was  a  little  suspicious 
that  there  was  not  the  most  cordial  feeling  on  Bradburn's 
part ;  and  Mr.  Bradburn  availed  himself  of  the  fact  of  Mr. 
Wesley  leaving  John  Ilampson's  name  out  of  the  Deed  of 
Declaration,  which  was  interpreted  into  a  matter  of  prejudice, 
and  gave  offence  to  Mr.  Hampson  and  his  friends. 

BRADBURN  AND  THE  YOUNG  MINISTERS. 

It  is  most  humiliating  to  hear  some  ministers  talking  of  the 
sacrifices  they  have  made  in  becoming  preachers  of  the 
Gospel. 

Some  have  made  great  sacrifices ;  like  the  disciples  of  old, 
"  they  have  left  all  and  followed  Him."  But  others  have 
been  elevated  in  all  respects  by  the  change;  called  from 
the  most  humble  walks  of  life  to  fill  a  most  exalted  station, 
to  be  heralds  of  the  cross,  and  ambassadors  for  Christ. 

The  Church  does  not  owe  them  half  as  much  as  they  owe 
the  Church.  To  it  they  are  indebted  for  what  they  are  on 
earth  and  for  what  they  hope  to  be  in  heaven.  They 
ought  not  to  talk  of  their  sacrifices,  but  thank  Jlim  who 
has  "  counted  them  faithful,  putting  them  into  the  min- 
istry." It  is  this  ungrateful  spirit  that  the  noble  Bradburn 
wished  to  reprove  in  the  characteristic  anecdote  that  follows: 
"  A  number  of  young  preachers  were  speaking  once  rather 
whiningly  of  having  '  given  up  all  for  the  ministry.'  They 
put  too  much  emphasis  on  their  sacrifices,  in  Bradburn's 


282 


THE  HEROES  OF  METHODISM. 


estimation ;  he  wished  to  rebuke  them,  and  did  it  with  his 
usual  felicity.  He  had  been  a  cobbler  himself,  as  well  as  a 
tinker,  and  most  of  the  young  men  in  the  company  had  been 
in  equally  humble  occupations.  '  Yes,  dear  brethren,'  ex- 
claimed he,  '  some  of  you  have  had  to  sacrifice  your  all  for 
the  itinerancy ;  but  we  old  men  have  had  our  share  of  these 
trials.  As  for  myself,  I  made  a  double  sacrifice,  for  I  gave 
up  for  the  ministry  two  of  the  best  awls  in  the  kingdom — a 
great  sacrifice  truly  to  become  an  ambassador  of  God  in  the 
Church  and  a  gentleman  in  society.'  " — National  Magazine, 

BRADBURN  AND  THE  DRUNKARD. 

A  drunken  person  came  reeling  to  the  door  of  a  place  in 
which  Bradburn  was  giving  tickets  to  the  members  of  a 
class,  insisting  on  admission,  and  with  just  sense  enough 
left  to  enable  him  to  say,  "  They  have  no  legal  authority 
for  holding  private  meetings." 

Some  of  the  friends  were  for  employing  physical  force  with 
the  intruder.  "  Let  the  man  alone,"  said  Bradburn  coolly, 
and  apparently  unconcerned,  adding,  while  looking  at  him, 
"  Step  in,  and  sit  down,"  pointing  to  a  seat,  and  taking  for 
the  time  no  further  notice  of  him,  but  proceeding  with  his 
work,  and  addressing  himself  separately  to  the  respective 
members,  saying,  while  fixing  his  eye  upon  one  of  them, 
"  Well,  my  brother,  you  have  experienced  the  truth  of  re- 
ligion in  your  heart  ?"  To  this  the  person  responded,  "  Yes, 
I  bless  the  Lord  that  he  ever  brought  me  to  an  acquaintance 
with  himself."  Turning  from  the  respondent,  and  waving 
the  hand,  after  a  partial  glance  at  the  poor  sot,  swinging  on 
his  seat,  and  apparently  pleased  with  the  notion  of  his  intro- 
duction, Bradburn  replied  as  he  again  bent  his  eye  upon  the 
member,  "  Ay,  that  is  well ;  it  is  more  than  this  man  has  ex- 
perienced." Directing  his  face  toward  another,  the  intruder 
being  a  little  touched,  and  stupidly  awake  to  the  reply,  Mr. 
Bradburn  proceeded :  "  Well,  my  sister,  you  have  the  life  of 


SAMUEL  BRADBURN. 


288 


God,  I  hope,  in  your  soul  ?"  "  Yes,  sir,"  she  replied ;  "  I  am 
thankful  the  Lord  has  converted  me,  and  raised  me  to  new- 
ness of  life."  "  Praise  the  Lord,"  returned  Bradburn,  partial- 
ly inclining  his  head  toward  the  intruder ;  "'it  is  more  than 
this  poor  drunkard  can  say  ;  for  he  is  dead  in  trespasses  and 
sins." 

He  addressed  the  third :  "  Well,  my  brother,  you  have  a 
good  hope,  I  trust,  through  grace."  "  I  bless  the  Lord  I 
have,"  was  returned.  Bradburn,  shaking  his  head,  and  with 
a  sigh,  while  the  bacchanalian,  with  something  like  return- 
ing consciousness  of  his  situation,  and  a  feeling  approaching 
to  shame,  manifested  a  degree  of  uneasiness,  proceeded  to 
remark,  "  Ay,  that  is  much  more  than  this  vile  wretch  can 
say,  for  he  can  expect  nothing  but  hell."  At  this  the  man 
bounced  from  his  seat,  staggered  to  the  door,  and  suddenly 
disappeared. — Everett. 


BRADBURN  AND  SAMMY  HICK. 

Samuel  Hick  attended  a  love-feast  in  the  Wakefield  Circuit, 
when  Mr.  Bradburn  was  stationed  there.  Several  of  the 
good  people  were  in  the  habit  of  giving  out  the  verse  of  a 
hymn  before  they  narrated  their  Christian  experience,  by 
way  of  tuning  their  spirits  for  the  work.  This  was  prohibit- 
ed by  Mr.  Bradburn,  not  only  as  a  reflection  upon  himself, 
being  both  authorized  and  competent  to  conduct  the  service, 
but  as  an  improper  appropriation  of  the  time  which  was  set 
apart  for  speaMng.  Samuel,  either  forgetting  the  prohibi- 
tion, or  being  too  warm  to  be  restrained  within  its  limits, 
gave  out  a  verse.  Mr.  Bradburn  was  instantly  in  his  majes- 
ty, and  with  one  of  his  severest  and  worst  faces,  looked  at 
Samuel,  who  stood  up  in  the  congregation  and  sung  alone, 
no  one  daring  to  join  him — prefacing  his  rebuke  with  one  of 
his  singularly  extravagant  remarks,  "Where  is  the  person 
that  would  not  come  out  of  a  red-hot  oven  to  hear  such  a 

13 


284  THE  HEROES  OF  METHODISM. 


man  as  you  sing  ?"  then  proceeded  to  make  such  observa- 
tions as  he  thought  proper.  Samuel,  supposing  the  rebuke 
to  have  been  given  in  an  improper  spirit,  went  into  the  ves- 
try after  service  to  settle  matters.  Offering  to  shake  hands 
"with  Mr.  Bradburn,  who  was  not  in  one  of  his  most  compla- 
cent moods,  he  was  saluted  with,  "  What,  are  you  the  man 
that  persisted  in  singing  after  I  peremptorily  forbid  it  ?" 
"  Ye — ye — yes,  sir,"  said  Samuel ;  "  but  I  hope  you  will  for- 
give me,  Mr.  Bradburn ;"  and  without  waiting  to  see  how 
the  request  was  taken,  he  was  in  an  instant  upon  his  knees 
among  the  people.  Those  around  followed  his  example,  and 
last  of  all,  Mr.  Bradburn  knelt  by  his  side,  who  found  that 
it  would  scarcely  look  decorous  to  stand  alone.  Every  heart 
was  touched  with  Samuel's  simplicity  and  fervour;  and 
when  he  concluded  prayer,  Mr.  Bradburn,  with  a  full  heart, 
and  with  all  the  magnanimity  and  generous  flow  of  spirit  he 
possessed,  stretched  out  his  hand,  familiarly  saying,  "  There, 
my  brother,  this  is  the  way  to  keep  paying  off  as  we  go 
on." — Everett, 


REY.  S.  HUTCIIIISOI. 


THE  REV.  SYLVESTER  HUTCHINSON. 


Sylvester  Hutchinson  is  a  name  conspicuous  in  the  annals 
of  early  Methodism  in  this  country.  The  fathers  and  moth- 
ers in  Israel,  who  still  survive,  remember  him  for  his  numer- 
ous virtues,  and  yet  speak  of  him  with  admiration. 

Mr.  Hutchinson  joined  the  travelling  connexion  in  1789  ; 
and  after  toiling  in  the  itinerant  field  seventeen  years,  located. 
Two  of  his  brothers,  Robert  and  Aaron,  were  also  travelling 
preachers.  His  first  appointment  was  Salem,  New-Jersey, 
ifie  next  Chester,  and  the  third  Fell's  Point,  Baltimore.  He 
was  presiding  elder  of  the  New- York  district  from  179*7  to 
1799.  For  three  years  he  was  the  standard-bearer  of  a 
noble  band  of  Christian  warriors,  who  battled  for  God,  truth, 
and  victory.  Among  them  was  Dr.  Shadrach  Bostwick — a 
host  in  himself — a  prince  in  Israel,  one  of  heaven's  nobility. 
Another  was  the  eloquent  Michael  Coate,  whose  "  speech 
distilled  as  the  dew,  and  as  the  gentle  rain  upon  the  new- 
mown  grass ;"  Peter  Jayne,  of  precious  memory,  "  a  brother 
beloved;"  Lawrence  M'Combs,  with  his  giant  frame,  his 
voice  like  a  lion,  dealing  heavy  blows  with  his  great  battle-axe 
against  Calvinism ;  Joel  Ketchum,  who  found  a  sepulchre  in 
the  ocean ;  Joseph  Sawyer,  the  spiritual  father  of  Dr.  Nathan 
Bangs ;  Peter  Moriarty,  "  in  labours  more  abundant 
Philip  Wager,  a  flaming  herald  of  the  cross ;  Joseph  Mitchell, 

endued  with  power  from  on  high,"  the  early  friend  and 
spiritual  guide  of  Elijah  Hedding ;  John  Wilson,  a  "  beloved 
disciple,"  afterward  book  agent ;  Joseph  Totten,  a  man  of 
sterling  integrity  ;  William  Phoebus,  eccentric,  metaphysical, 
philosophical;  George  Roberts,  an  unyielding  champion  of 


288  THE  HEROES  OF  METHODISM. 


free  salvation;  William  Beauchainp,  a  man  of  superior 
talents;  Billy  Hibbard,  quaint,  courageous,  showing  no 
quarters  to  the  devil ;  Peter  Vannest,  the  mild,  the  good, 
the  true;  John  M'Claskey,  bold,  fearless,  ardent;  Dr.  T.  F. 
Sargent,  a  strong  man ;  Lorenzo  Dow,  then  burning  with 
zeal  for  the  glory  of  God  and  the  salvation  of  men. 
William  Thatcher,  Joshua  Wells,  and  Daniel  Webb  are 
the  only  ones  that  were  on  that  district  then,  who  now  survive, 
full  of  years,  full  of  honours,  waiting  with  patience  the  time 
of  their  departure. 

These  were  the  brave,  heroic  men  that  Hutchinson  led 
forth  to  glorious  war.  Nobler,  bolder  men  have  seldom 
fought  with  the  enemies  of  the  cross.  Could  he  fail  of 
victory  with  such  valiant  Christian  soldiers  ? 

In  1800  he  was  stationed  in  New- York  city,  with  Jesse 
Lee  and  John  M'Claskey,  who  were  giants  in  those  days. 
In  1801  he  was  the  travelling  companion  of  that  holy  man, 
Bishop  Whatcoat.  In  1803  Mr.  Hutchinson  was  the  suc- 
cessor of  the  Rev.  Shadrach  Bostwick,  as  presiding  elder  on 
the  Pittsfield  district.  Among  the  preachers  under  his 
charge,  at  that  time,  was  the  youthful  and  eloquent  Samuel 
Merwin ;  Martin  Ruter,  who  was  then  also  in  the  morn- 
ing of  life,  in  after  years  fell  a  martyr  to  the  work  in  Texas ; 
Seth  Crowell,  with  a  clear,  logical  head,  and  a  warm 
heart ;  Luman  Andrus,  amiable,  and  of  a  sweet  disposition ; 
William  Anson,  rejoicing  that  he  was  counted  worthy  to 
suffer  in  a  cause  so  good ;  Henr}-  Eames,  with  his  warm 
Irish  heart;  Elijah  Chichester,  like  Elijah  of  old,  faithful  to 
his  God,  and  faithful  to  otliers.  Laban  Clark  and  Gershom 
Pearce  are  the  only  ones  of  those  heroic  men,  led  forward  by 
the  chivalrous  Hutchinson  on  Pittsfield  district,  who  still  live ; 
the  rest  have  fallen  at  their  post,  sword  in  hand,  and  are 
among  the  conquerors.  When  he  travelled  Pittsfield  district, 
Mr.  Hutchinson  was  the  presiding  elder  of  the  youthful  and  ar- 
dent Elijah  Hedding,  afterward  oishop.  Mr.  Hedding  always 
spoke  of  Mr.  Hutchinson  in  the  highest  terms.  "  The  district,'* 


SYLVESTER  HUTCHINSON. 


289 


says  Dr.  Clarke,  in  his  Life  of  Hedding,  "was  of  gigantic 
proportions,  and  the  presiding  eldership  no  sinecure  in 
those  early  days.  It  embraced  New- York  city,  the  whole 
of  Long  Island,  and  extended  northward,  embracing  the 
whole  territory  having  the  Connecticut  River  on  the  east 
and  Hudson  River  and  Lake  Champlain  on  the  west,  and 
stretching  far  into  Canada.  It  embraced  nearly  the  whole 
territory  now  included  within  three  annual  conferences. 
This  immense  district  was  then  travelled  by  Sylvester 
Hutchinson.  He  was  a  man  of  burning  zeal  and  indomita- 
ble energy.  Mounted  upon  his  favourite  horse,  he  would 
lide  through  the  entire  extent  of  his  district  once  in  three 
months,  visiting  each  circuit,  and  invariably  filling  all  his 
numerous  appointments.  His  voice  rung  like  a  trumpet 
blast;  and  with  words  of  fire,  and  in  powerful  demonstration 
of  the  Spirit,  he  preached  Christ  Jesus." 

His  appointments  show  the  rank  he  held  in  the  ministry — 
the  profound  confidence  his  brethren  had  in  him.  Where  he 
found  a  grave  we  know  not ;  as  he  located,  we  have  no  ac- 
count of  him  in  the  Minutes.  Mr.  Hutchinson  was  a  small 
man,  but  had  a  very  strong  voice,  and  seemed  never  to  be 
wearied ;  he  lived  in  the  spirit,  and  was  constantly  ready  for 
every  good  word  and  work. 


HUTCHINSON  ANB  THE  TRIFLING  YOUNG  WOMEN. 

The  following  affecting  incident  occurred  on  Salem  circuit, 
New-Jersey,  the  first  Mr.  Hutchinson  travelled,  when  he 
was  in  his  boyhood  in  the  ministry :  While  he  was  sitting 
one  day  in  the  house  where  he  lodged  temporarily,  waiting 


290  THE  HEROES  OF  METHODISM. 


for  tlie  hour  of  preaching,  two  young  women  entered  the 
room  to  have  some  sport  with  the  boy  preacher.  They  be- 
gan to  ridicule  his  size,  and  his  insignificant  appearance; 
when,  suddenly  lifting  up  his  head  from  a  reclining  posture, 
he  repeated,  in  slow  and  solemn  tones,  the  following  words : 

*'  My  thoughts  on  awful  subjects  roll — 

Damnation  and  the  dead  ; 
What  horrors  seize  the  guilty  soul 

Upon  a  dying  bed." 

His  voice,  his  countenance,  his  manner,  were  all  calculated 
to  make  them  feel  that 

"  ''lis  not  the  whole  of  life  to  live, 
Nor  all  of  death  to  die." 

That 

There  is  a  death,  whose  pang 
Outlasts  the  fleeting  breath ; 
And  that  eternal  horrors  hang 
Around  the  second  death." 

Their  thoughts  also  on  "  awful  subjects  rolled  ;"  for  the  words 
of  the  preacher  were  like  "  nails  fastened  in  a  sure  place,  by 
the  Master  of  assemblies."  They  were  powerfully  convicted ; 
they  trembled  in  view  of  their  guilt  and  danger,  and  peniten- 
tial tears  rolled  down  their  cheeks  ;  they  fled  from  the  room, 
and  rested  not  till  they  had  found  a  refuge  in  the  broad  bosom 
of  the  Son  of  God.  Soon  after  the  young  women  identified 
themselves  with  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  saying, 
with  Ruth,  "  Thy  people  shall  be  my  people,  and  thy  God 
my  God." — Methodism  in  West  Jersey. 


HUTCHINSON  AND  THE  TRAVELLER. 

Hutchinson  was  riding  along  one  day  when  a  man  on 
horseback  overtook  him,  and  no  doubt  thought  ho  would 
have  a  little  sport  with  him.  He  began  with  the  following 
inquiries :  "  How  do  you  do  ?    "^Tiich  way  are  you  travel- 


SYLVESTER  HUTCHINSON. 


291 


ling  ?"  Such  was  his  manner,  that  Mr.  Hutchinson  perfectly 
understood  his  object.  He  made  the  following  reply :  "  I 
do  the  Lord's  work ;  you  do  the  devil's.  I  am  on  the  way 
to  heaven ;  you  are  going  to  hell,  where  fire  and  brimstone 
are  the  fuel,  and  the  smoke  of  the  torment  ascendeth  up 
forever  and  ever." 

The  man  became  alarmed.  He  put  spurs  to  his  horse,  and 
rode  away  as  fast  as  he  could ;  but  he  could  not  run  away 
from  his  convictions,  or  the  terrors  of  a  guilty  conscience. 
He  was  at  the  next  meeting,  a  sincere  penitent,  shedding 

*'  Those  humble,  contrite  tears, 
Which  from  repentance  flo-vr." 

He  sought  diligently,  and,  to  his  great  joy,  found  the  pearl 
of  pearls.  He  afterward  became  an  eminent  man  of  God. — 
Mev.  G.  A.  Rayhold. 

HUTCHINSON,  THE  LOST  PRESIDING  ELDER. 

Hutchinson  was  at  one  time  the  presiding  elder  of  the  im- 
mense northern  district  extending  into  Canada.  It  was 
winter  on  his  last  round  there.  The  rivers  were  frozen  so  as 
to  bear  his  horse ;  so  he  rode  upon  the  ice  for  miles,  and 
when  he  reached  the  Canada  shore  the  snow  was  two  feet 
deep ;  but  the  preacher  and  his  trusty  horse  toiled  on  until 
night,  through  the  woods,  by  a  mere  "  blazed  track,"  (trees 
marked  with  the  axe.)  The  way  became  more  uncertain ; 
until  at  length  he  was  fairly  lost  amid  the  interminable 
forests  of  Canada,  in  the  snow,  and  with  danger  all 
around.  From  the  distance  he  had  travelled,  the  preacher 
decided  that  he  could  not  be  many  miles  from  his  place  of 
destination ;  he  hoped  that  the  people,  knowing  his  punctu- 
ality, would  conclude  that  he  had  lost  the  track,  and  turn  out 
to  meet  him.  With  this  conclusion  he  dismounted ;  covered 
himself  in  his  blanket  from  the  wind  ;  held  the  bridle  in  his 
hand ;  and  sat  down  at  the  trunk  of  a  large  tree  awaiting 
13* 


292 


THE  HEROES  OF  METHODISM. 


the  result,  committing  his  life  and  soul  to  the  Lord.  The 
wolves  were  heard  howling  around  at  a  distance,  and  it  was 
likely  that,  before  morning,  those  ravenous  beasts  would  scent 
the  horse,  and  devour  both,  unless  the  preacher  could  find 
a  tree,  or  his  friends  should  find  him.  Long  seemed  the 
hours,  closer  came  the  howling  wolves ;  but  his  soul  was  calm 
— the  Lord  was  with  him.  The  cold  was  most  intense ;  he 
kept  himself  awake  by  exercising  his  arms  and  feet  around  the 
trunk  of  the  tree ;  the  stars  shone  brilliantly,  and  the  snow- 
light  rendered  objects  discernible  at  some  distance.  A  cry 
is  heard  a  great  way  oflf;  another,  and  another;  a  wolf-howl 
comes  nearer :  again  those  cries  break  on  the  frightful  still- 
ness ;  surely  that  wolf  is  stealing  nearer.  Xow  the  distant 
cries  becomes  clear ;  lights  are  seen ;  it  is  the  ifriends  in  search 
of  the  lost  presiding  elder ;  he  shouts  in  return ;  the  disap- 
pointed wolf  gives  a  last  howl,  and  trots  off;  the  people,  with 
pine-torches,  draw  nearer ;  they  hear  the  feeble  shout  of  the 
benumbed  man  :  he  is  found ;  he  is  brought  carefully  to  the 
house,  wrapped  in  furs  ;  warm  drinks,  or  other  appliances, 
restore  his  almost  congealed  powers ;  the  life  of  the  good 
man  is  saved  to  endure  yet  greater  hardships  than  a  night 
in  the  frozen  forest.  It  was  about  two  o'clock  when  the 
preacher  was  found.  He  had  travelled  all  day  without  food 
for  himself  or  horse ;  now  both  were  fully  but  prudently 
supplied ;  and  the  next  morning  the  Rev.  Sylvester  Hutch- 
inson preached  at  the  quarterly  meeting,  as  freely  and  as 
powerftilly  as  though  he  had  not  been  thus  exposed.  These 
were  the  men  of  iron  constitution — men  who  seemed  to  be 
made  for  their  day ;  and  most  nobly  did  they  sustain  the 
character  they  bore — faithful  in  all  things  appertaining  to 
duty,  even  unto  death  itself. 


EEV.  DARITJS  DUNHAM. 


THE  REV.  DARIUS  DUNHAM. 


Darius  Dunham  was  one  of  the  earliest  pioneers  of  Method- 
ism in  Canada.  He  entered  the  travelling  connexion  in 
1*788,  and  after  travelling  twelve  years,  located  in  1800. 
A  writer  in  the  *'  Christian  Guardian,"  of  Toronto,  describes 
him  as  follows : 

"  Dunham,  if  I  mistake  not,  accompanied  Losee  to  Can- 
ada on  the  occasion  of  his  second  visit,  and  remained  till  the 
end  of  his  life,  having  married  and  settled  in  the  country. 
What  a  pity  that  some  one  of  ability,  who  knew  him  per- 
sonally, and  who  has  access  to  the  requisite  materials,  would 
not  give  us  a  life  of  this  extraordinary  man.  Dunham  was 
a  character,  no  doubt.  The  writer  never  saw  him ;  but  he 
has  heard  enough  about  him  to  say,  that  there  seems  to  have 
been  some  correspondence  between  body  and  mind.  He 
was  an  under-sized,  compact,  strong,  healthy  man,  with 
coarse  hair,  bushy  eyebrows,  and  a  grum,  heavy  bass  voice. 
He  was  a  man  of  good  talents  as  a  preacher,  and  very  con- 
siderable attainments,  which  enabled  him,  when  he  desisted 
from  travelHng,  (as  most  had  to  do  in  that  day,  when  their 
families  were  large,)  to  take  up  the  practice  of  physic ;  but 
he  was  plain  of  speech,  honest,  and  very  blunt."  I  am  in- 
debted to  this  writer  for  several  of  the  following  anecdotes. 


296  THE  HEROES  OF  METHODISM. 


DUNHAM  AND  ELIJAH  WOOLSEY. 

In  an  interesting  little  book,  published  at  200  Mulberry-street, 
called  the  "  Supernumerary,"  edited  by  Rev.  George  Coles,  Mr. 
Woolsey  gives  an  account  of  Mr.  Dunham  and  his  perilous 
journey  to  Canada,  in  those  days  which  tried  men's  souls  and 
bodies.  It  throws  light  on  the  character  of  the  heroic  Dunham, 
and  shows  us,  also,  what  the  early  pioneers  suffered  in  going 
into  the  wilderness  in  pursuit  of  the  "  lost  sheep  of  the  house 
of  Israel."  I  prefer  to  give  it  in  Mr.  Woolsey's  own  language : 
"At  the  conference  in  1794,  D.  Dunham  came  from 
Canada,  and  asked  me  if  I  would  go  with  him  to  the 
province.  I  consented  ;  and  though  I  had  not  had  a  regu- 
lar appointment  more  than  one  year,  the  conference  accepted 
of  my  two  years'  service,  such  as  it  was,  and  I  was  ordained 
a  deacon  in  the  Church  of  God,  and,  as  I  was  now  going  out 
of  the  States,  I  was  ordained  an  elder  the  next  day.  J.  Cole- 
man was  appointed  to  go  with  us.  So  after  conference  we 
set  out  for  Canada.  But  the  parting  of  my  relatives  and 
near  friends  was  a  great  trial  to  me,  and  I  was  glad  when  I  was 
out  of  sight  of  the  house.  We  went  by  the  way  of  Albany 
and  Schenectady.  At  Albany  we  laid  in  our  provisions  for 
the  journey.  When  we  came  to  Schenectady  we  found  that 
the  company  with  whom  we  had  intended  to  go  had  taken 
their  departure.  So  we  tarried  a  week,  and  provided  our- 
selves with  a  boat.  Two  men  had  engaged  to  go  with  us, 
and  to  work  their  passage  up  the  Mohawk ;  but  an  enemy 
to  the  Methodists  persuaded  them  to  relinquish  their  engage- 
ment with  us,  which  they  did,  and  went  with  him.  We 


DARIUS  DUNHAM. 


were  then  left  alone,  and  had  to  work  our  own  passage. 
"When  we  came  to  the  first  rapids,  which  by  the  Dutch 
people  are  called  *  knock  'em  stiff,'  we  had  our  difficulties. 
I  had  never  used  the  setting  pole  in  my  life,  and  my  col- 
league, J.  C,  was  not  a  veiy  good  waterman.  When  we  had 
almost  ascended  the  rapids,  the  boat  turned  round,  and  down 
the  stream  she  went,  much  more  rapidly  than  she  went  up. 
We  tried  again ;  and  when  we  had  almost  conquered  the 
difficulty,  the  boat  turned  again.  I  then  jumped  overboard, 
thinking  to  save  the  boat  from  going  down  stream ;  but  the 
water  was  over  my  head.  So  away  went  the  boat,  with  my  ^ 
companions  in  it,  and  I  swam  to  shore.  The  next  day  we 
*  doubled  the  cape,'  and  that  day  made  a  voyage  of  ten  miles. 
At  night  we  brought  up  the  boat,  and  made  her  fast  to  a  tree. 
We  then  kindled  a  fire,  put  on  the  tea-kettle  and  the  cook- 
ing-pot, boiled  our  potatoes,  made  our  tea,  and  ate  our  sup- 
per with  a  good  appetite  and  a  clear  conscience,  and,  after 
smoking  our  pipes  and  chatting  awhile,  we  sung  and  prayed, 
and  then  laid  ourselves 'down  among  the  sand  and  pebbles 
on  the  bank  of  the  river  to  rest ;  but  I  was  so  wearied  with 
the  toils  of  the  day  that  I  could  not  sleep  much  that  night.'* 


TOILS  OF  THE  PIONEERS. 

"  Next  morning,  about  daybreak,  a  man  and  his  son  hailed 
us  fi-om  the  other  side  of  the  river,  and  wished  to  know  if 
they  might  work  their  passage  to  Rome,  a  distance  of  about 
eighty  miles  from  the  spot  where  we  were.  Brother  Dun- 
ham told  them  if  they  were  civil  men,  and  would  behave 
accordingly,  they  might,  and  we  would  find  them  provisions. 
So  we  soon  started,  but  had  not  gone  far  before  one  of  them 
began  to  swear  profanely.  We  told  him  if  he  did  not  cease 
swearing  we  would  set  them  ashore.  Not  long  after  this, 
some  things  did  not  please  him,  and  he  began  swearing 
again  as  before.    Brother  D.,  being  at  the  helm,  steered  the 


298 


THE  HEROES  OF  METHODISM. 


boat  toward  the  shore,  and  gave  him  his  bundle,  and  told 
him  to  go,  saying  that  he  would  not  have  a  swearer  on  board. 
So  we  parted,  and  found  that  we  got  along  better  without 
them  than  with  them  ;  and  that  day,  by  the  setting  of  the 
sun,  we  rowed  up  stream  about  forty  miles.  "We  put  ashore, 
as  on  the  preceding  night,  collected  the  leaves  together,  and 
made  our  couch  as  comfortable  as  we  could,  for  we  had  no 
other  place  for  that  time  whereon  to  lay  our  heads,  being  in 
some  sense  like  the  patriarch  of  old,  when  he  was  on  his  way 
to  Padan-aram.  Our  toil  by  day  made  repose  welcome  at 
night,  so  that  when  the  morning  light  appeared  we  were 
rather  loath  to  leave  our  humble  beds.  The  weather,  how- 
ever, warned  us  to  depart;  it  became  stormy  by  day,  and 
much  more  so  by  night.  "We  had  rain  and  snow  fifteen  days 
out  of  nineteen  during  that  journey.  W^hen  we  were  going 
down  the  Oswego  River,  two  men  hailed  us  from  the  shore, 
and  desired  to  work  their  passage,  about  twenty  miles.  It  was 
very  stormy.  I  was  very  weary,  and  glad  to  rest  a  little; 
so  we  took  them  in,  and  I  took  the  helm ;  but  being  warm 
with  work,  and  then  sitting  still  in  the  boat,  I  took  a  violent 
cold.  Toward  evening  we  saw  a  small  log-house,  and  went 
to  it.  We  found  the  woman  sick  in  bed,  and  the  man  in 
poor  health ;  they  had  three  children,  and  but  very  little  to  eat. 
Here  we  lodged  all  night.  I  laid  me  down  on  the  stones  of 
the  floor,  which  were  very  hard  and  uneven,  but  we  kept  a 
good  fire  all  night,  and  I  got  into  a  perspiration,  which  re- 
lieved me  of  my  cold  a  little ;  so  that  in  the  morning  I  felt  much 
better  than  on  the  preceding  night.  Brother  Dunham,  be- 
ing a  physician,  administered  some  medicine  to  the  woman, 
which  greatly  relieved  her.  She  appeared  to  be  a  pious 
woman,  and  had  been  a  member  of  the  Baptist  Church  at 
Ridgefield,  in  Connecticut,  but  said  she  had  never  seen  a 
Methodist  before.  We  had  a  very  pleasant  and  edifying  in- 
terview with  the  family  that  evening,  in  religious  conversa- 
tion, singing,  and  prayer.  When  we  discovered  that  they 
were  so  destitute  of  provisions,  we  divided  our  little  stock, 


DARIUS  DUNHAM. 


2d9 


and  shared  with  them  of  all  that  we  had.  They  appeared 
equally  surprised  and  thankful;  surprised  that  Methodists 
(of  whom  they  had  heard  strange  things  in  their  own 
country)  could  be  both  religious  and  kind,  and  were  thankful 
for  the  timely  relief.  They  wished  that  we  would  tell  any  of 
our  Methodist  friends,  who  had  to  travel  that  way,  to  be  sure 
and  call  on  them.  They  desired  us  also,  if  ever  we  came 
within  forty  miles  of  them,  to  be  sure  and  go  that  distance  at 
least  out  of  our  way  to  see  them,  telling  us  that  we  should 
be  welcome  to  anything  that  the  house  or  farm  afforded. 
The  house,*  however,  was  not  likely  to  afford  much,  and  there 
was  scarcely  anything  on  the  farm  but  forest  trees.  This  was 
the  only  time,  during  our  journey  of  nineteen  days,  that  we 
found  a  house  to  shelter  us ;  and  it  was  good  for  that  family 
that  they  entertained  the  strangers,  for  we  were  in  truth  as 
angels  of  mercy  to  them :  they  must  have  suffered  greatly 
had  we  not  called  on  them. 

"  At  night  I  have  often  hunted  for  a  stone  or  a  stick  for 
a  pillow,  and  in  the  morning,  when  I  took  hold  of  the  oar 
or  setting  pole,  I  had  to  do  it  as  gently  as  I  could,  by  reason 
of  the  soreness  of  my  hands,  which  were  much  blistered  and 
bruised  in  rowing  the  boat.  We  attended  to  family  worship 
both  night  and  morning,  although  we  slept  in  the  woods  ;  and 
the  presence  of  the  Lord  was  with  us  of  a  truth.  When  we 
arrived  at  the  Fort  of  Oswego,  on  Lake  Ontario,  we  were 
searched  to  see  if  we  were  not  '  running  goods,'  as  they  called 
it.  This  affair  being  adjusted  without  diflSculty — for  we  were 
neither  spies  nor  smugglers — we  were  now  ready  to  embark 
on  the  lake ;  but,  the  wind  blowing  high,  we  were  detained 
two  days  longer.  At  length  there  was  a  calm,  and  we  ven- 
tured out  on  the  broad  lake ;  and  when  we  had  gone  about 
twenty  miles,  the  wind  rose  again,  and  blew  right  ahead,  so 
that  we  had  to  change  our  course,  and  steer  for  the  Black 
River  country.  The  wind  was  boisterous,  and  the  waves 
dashed  terribly  against  our  little  bark ;  and  before  we  reached 
the  shore  we  struck  a  rock,  and  split  our  boat :  a  circum- 


300 


THE  HEROES  OF  METHODISM. 


stance  which  made  sailing  still  more  dangerous  and  un- 
pleasant. We  had  a  quantity  of  books  on  board,  which 
were  considerably  injured  by  being  wet.  When  we  came 
ashore  we  made  a  fire,  and  dried  our  clothes  and  books,  and 
mended  our  boat  as  well  as  we  could.  The  next  day  we  era- 
barked  again  on  the  lake,  but  the  wind  was  right  ahead, 
which  caused  us  to  turn  our  course.  We  made  for  Salmon 
River,  where  we  put  in  for  that  day  ;  and  early  in  the  morn- 
ing of  the  next  day  we  started  again,  and  pulled  at  the  oars 
till  daylight  disappeared  in  the  west.  We  went  round  Stony 
Point,  and  into  Hungary  Bay,  and  landed  on  .Grenadier 
Island.  When  we  struck  the  shore  I  sprang  out  of  the  boat, 
and  fell  down  on  the  beach,  and  thought  I  never  knew  rest 
to  be  so  sweet  before.  But  we  were  sensible  that  it  would 
not  do  to  sit  still ;  therefore  we  kindled  a  fire,  hung  on  the 
tea-kettle,  cooked  some  victuals,  ate  our  supper,  attended 
family  worship,  and  retired  to  rest.  Our  weariness  invited 
repose,  nor  did  the  murmur  of  the  waves  disturb  our  slum- 
beis;  and,  besides,  we  had  that  very  necessary  requisite  fo 
sound  sleep,  recommended  by  Dr.  Franklin,  namely,  a  good 
conscience.  On  this  island  we  found  a  fortification  and  trees, 
which  seemed  to  be  at  least  one  hundred  years  old,  growing 
in  the  entrenchment.  The  island  is  in  the  mouth  of  Hun- 
gary Bay,  and  is  subject  to  high  winds.  Here  we  were  de- 
tained until  we  were  brought  to  an  allowance  of  bread,  having 
only  one  biscuit  a  day.  I  would  have  given  considerable  for 
a  piece  of  bread  as  big  as  my  hand,  if  I  could  have  obtained 
it ;  but  we  were  afraid  of  making  too  free  with  our  little  stock, 
lest  it  should  not  last  us  until  we  could  get  free  from  the 
island.  We  ate  our  last  biscuit  about  the  middle  of  the  day 
we  left  the  island,  and  got  into  harbour  on  the  mainland 
about  eleven  o'clock  at  night,  and  glad  enough  we  were  when 
we  landed.  We  put  up  that  night  at  the  house  of  our  kind 
friend,  Mr.  Parrott.  He  and  his  wife  were  members  of  our 
Church,  and  received  us  very  kindly.  We  informed  him 
how  it  had  been  with  us  respecting  food.    Sister  Parrott 


DARIUS  DUNHAM. 


301 


hastened  to  make  supper  ready;  but  it  was  as  much  as  I 
could  do  to  keep  ray  hands  from  the  bread  until  all  was 
ready.  We  took  care  not  to  eat  too  much  that  night,  fear- 
ing it  might  not  be  so  well  for  us.  We  retired  to  rest  on 
feather  beds,  but  it  was  a  restless  night  to  us  all.  Brother 
Coleman  had  a  mind  to  leave  the  bed  and  take  to  the  floor, 
but  I  told  him  we  must  get  used  to  it,  so  he  submitted ;  but 
our  slumbers  were  not  half  so  sweet  as  on  the  sandy  beach 
and  pebbly  shore,  when  we  were  rocked  by  the  wind  and 
lulled  by  the  rippling  wave. 

"  My  companions  and  I  were  called  to  part  Brother 
Dunham  went  to  Niagara  circuit.  Brother  Coleman  to  Bay 
Quinte,  and  I  to  Oswegothe ;  and  we  were  so  far  apart  that 
we  could  not  often  meet.  In  going  to  Canada  we  were  nine- 
teen days,  in  returning  thirteen." 

SCOLDING  DUNHAM. 

His  characteristic  plainness  of  speech  and  honest  expression 
of  sentiment,  among  those  who  did  not  like  his  plain-dealing 
got  him  the  sobriquet  of  "  scolding  Dunham ;"  but  his 
"scolding,"  as  it  was  called,  was  always  accompanied  with 
a  spice  of  wit  that  made  it  rather  agreeable  than  otherwise. 
Many  instances  of  his  home  strokes,  both  in  and  out  of  the 
pulpit,  have  been  recited  to  the  writer.  In  the  Ottawa 
country  he  was  remembered,  among  other  things,  for  his  love 
of  cleanliness,  and  opposition  to  domestic  filthiness ;  some- 
times telling  the  slatternly  to  "  clean  up,"  or  the  next  time 
he  came  he  would  "  bring  a  dish-cloth  along." 

DUNHAM'S  INEXPLICABLE  GROAN. 

Darius  Dunham  had  just  commenced  his  itinerant  labours 
on  Cambridge  circuit,  in  1*789,  and  #as  on  his  way  to 
Ashgrove,  New- York,  one  Saturday  evening,  and  found 


302 


THE  HEROES  OF  METHODISM. 


it  was  about  twenty  miles  ofiF.  Being  unacquainted  with 
the  Dutch  dialect,  which  prevailed  in  that  neighbour- 
hood, lie  inquired  for  the  residence  of  a  Yankee,  and  was 
directed  to  the  house  of  Mr.  Havens,  where  he  requested 
entertainment  over  the  Sabbath,  and  the  privilege  of 
preaching  in  the  neighbourhood.  Mr.  Havens  informed 
him  that  he  could  not  make  him  very  comfortable,  but 
he  would  conduct  him  to  the  house  of  his  landlord,  who 
was  an  able  farmer,  and  would  entertain  him  comfortably. 
He  was  very  reluctant  to  go,  but,  after  being  assured  by  Mr. 
Havens  that  they  were  harmless,  he  consented  to  go,  and 
was  hospitably  received ;  and  his  request  for  permission  to 
preach  was  readily  granted,  without  inquiring  to  what  de- 
nomination he  belonged.  After  supper  the  young  people 
began  to  be  very  lively,  and  to  converse  in  Dutch.  The 
preacher  began  to  feel  himself  a  stranger,  and  reflecting,  no 
doubt,  upon  the  great  work  before  him,  would  occasionally 
sigh  and  groan,  at  which  the  family  seemed  very  much 
alarmed.  At  length  the  old  lady  stepped  lightly  across  the 
floor  to  one  of  her  sons,  and  said  to  him,  "  My  son,  what 
can  be  the  matter  with  this  man  ?"  He  answered,  "  I  can 
not  tell,  I  do  not  know."  Then  all  was  silent,  and  she  re 
sumed  her  seat,  and  the  children  were  as  lively  as  ever.  But 
soon  another  groan  proceeded  from  the  unknown  visitor. 
The  old  lady  again  arose  from  her  seat,  and  approached  her 
son,  and  said,  "  My  son,  what  can  be  the  matter  ?  Has  he 
murdered  any  one  ?"  He  rephed,  "  I  do  not  know,  mother." 
But  when  he  came  to  preach  and  pray,  they  were  well 
satisfied  as  to  the  reason  of  his  groaning.  The  old  people 
and  their  children  were  awakened  to  see  their  lost  condition ; 
and  I  believe  from  this  time  the  Methodist  preachers  con- 
tinued to  visit  and  preach  at  their  house.  Many  of  their  pos- 
terity have  become  the  happy  subjects  of  converting  and 
sanctifying  grace,  and  some  of  them  eminently  so,  and  have 
died  and  gone  to  Aeir  reward  in  heaven. — Rev.  Samuel 
Howe, 


DAEIUS  DUNHAM. 


DUNHAM  AND  THE   WILD  FIEE. 

In  Upper  Canada  a  gracious  revival  commenced  in  179Y, 
chiefly  through  the  instrumentality  of  Hezekiah  Calvin 
Wooster.  At  a  quarterly  Meeting  on  the  Bay  of  Quinte 
Circuit,  after  preaching  ou  Saturday,  while  the  presiding 
elder,  Darius  Dunham,  retired  with  the  official  brethren  to 
hold  the  quarterly  conference,  Mr.  Wooster  remained  in  the 
meeting  to  pray  with  some  who  were  under  awakenings, 
and  others  who  were  groaning  for  full  redemption  in  the 
blood  of  the  Lamb.  While  uniting  with  his  brethren  in 
this  exercise,  the  power  of  the  Most  High  seemed  to  over- 
shadow the  congregation,  and  many  were  filled  with  joy  un- 
speakable, and  were  praising  the  Lord  for  what  he  had  done 
for  their  souls,  while  others,  with  "  speechless  awe  and  silent 
love,"  were  prostrate  on  the  floor.  When  the  presiding 
elder  came  into  the  house,  he  beheld  these  things  with  a 
mixture  of  wonder  and  indignation,  believing  that  "  wild- 
fire" was  burning  among  the  people.  After  gazing  awhile 
with  silent  astonishment,  he  kneeled  down,  and  began  to  pray 
God  to  stop  the  "  raging  of  the  wild-fire,"  as  he  called  it.  In 
the  mean  time,  Calvin  Wooster,  whose  soul  was  burning 
with  the  "  fire  of  the  Holy  Ghost,"  kneeled  by  the  side  of 
Dunham,  and  while  the  latter  was  earnestly  engaged  in 
prayer  for  God  to  put  out  the  wild-fire,  Wooster  softly  whis- 
pered out  a  prayer  in  the  following  words  :  "  Lord,  bless 
Brother  Dunham  !  Lord,  bless  Brother  Dunham !"  Thus 
they  continued  for  some  minutes,  when  at  length  the  prayer 
of  Brother  Wooster  prevailed,  and  Dunham  fell  prostrate  on 
the  floor ;  and  ere  he  rose,  received  a  baptism  of  that  very 
fire,  which  he  had  feelingly  deprecated  as  the  efi'ect  of  a  wild 
imagination.  There  was  now  harmony  in  their  prayers, 
feelings,  and  views,  and  this  was  the  commencement  of  a 
revival  of  religion,  which  soon  spread  through  the  entire 
province ;  for,  as  Brother  Dunham  was  the  presiding  elder. 


304  THE  HEROES  OF  METHODISM. 


he  was  instrumental  in  spreading  tlie  sacred  flame  through- 
out the  district,  to  the  joy  and  salvation  of  hundreds  of  im- 
mortal souls. — Bangs' s  History  of  the  M.  E.  Church. 

It  is,  indeed,  matter  of  regret,  that  such  a  man  should  have 
been  under  the  necessity  of  locating  three  years  after  for  the 
want  of  support.  • 

DUNHAM  REBUKES  LEVITY. 

Are  not  ministers  sometimes  so  anxious  to  swell  their  num- 
ber that  improper  persons  are  received  into  the  Church  ? 
those  who  have  no  particular  desire,  or  do  not  care,  but  are 
willing  to  do  so  to  accommodate  their  friends  or  the  minister. 
Should  we  be  so  anxious  for  members  as  to  build  with  wrong 
material,  "  hay,  wood,  or  stubble  ?"  "  For  other  foundation 
can  no  man  lay  than  is  laid,  which  is  Jesus  Christ."  J^one 
should  join  the  Church  except  those  who  have  an  ardent 
desire  to  flee  the  wrath  to  come,  and  secure  a  home  in 
heaven.  The  conduct  of  Dunham,  in  the  characteristic  an- 
ecdotes that  follow,  is  not  only  worthy  of  admiration,  but  of 
imitation :  Once,  in  the  neighbourhood  of  the  "  Head  of  the 
Lake,"  after  "  preaching  and  meeting  class,"  as  there  were 
several  strangers  present,  he  gave  an  offer  to  any  who  wish- 
ed to  "join  the  society,"  to  manifest  it  by  "standing  up," 
according  to  the  custom  of  the  times.  Two  young  women 
were  observed  sitting  together;  one  seemed  desirous  of  join- 
ing, but  seemed  to  wish  her  companion  to  do  the  same,  and 
asked  her,  loud  enough  to  be  heard  by  the  company,  if  she 
would  join  also.  Her  friend  replied  in  a  somewhat  heartless 
manner,  "I  don't  care  if  I  do."  "  You  had  better  wait  till 
you  do '  care^  "  chimed  in  the  grum  voice  of  Dunham.  He 
was  for  having  none  even  "  on  trial,"  who  had  not  a  sincere 
"  desire  to  flee  from  the  wrath  to  come,  and  to  be  saved  from 
their  sins." 


DARIUS  DUNHAM. 


805 


DUNHAM  AND  THE  SQUIRE. 

A  new-made  "  squire "  bantered  Dunham  before  some  com- 
pany about  riding  so  fine  a  horse;  and  told  bim  he  was 
very  unlike  his  humble  Master,  who  was  content  to  ride  on  an 
ass.  Dunham  responded  with  his  usual  imperturbable  grav- 
ity, and  in  his  usual  heavy  and  measured  tones,  that  he  agreed 
with  him  perfectly ;  and  that  he  would  most  assuredly  imi- 
tate his  Master  in  the  particular  mentioned,  only  for  the  diffi- 
culty of  finding  the  animal  required,  the  government  having 
"  made  all  the  asses  into  magistrates !" 


DUNHAM  AND  THE  INFIDEL. 

An  infidel,  who  was  a  fallen  Lutheran  clergyman,  endeav- 
oured one  night,  while  Dunham  was  preaching,  to  destroy 
the  effect  of  the  sermon,  by  turning  the  whole  into  ridicule. 
The  preacher  affected  not  to  notice  him  for  a  length  of  time, 
but  went  on  extolling  the  excellence  of  Christianity,  and 
showing  the  formidable  opposition  it  had  confronted  and 
overcome,  when  all  at  once  he  turned  to  the  spot  where  the 
scoffer  sat,  and,  fixing  his  eyes  upon  him,  the  old  man  con- 
tinued, "Shall  Christianity  and  her  votaries,  after  having 
passed  through  fire  and  water — after  vanquishing  the  oppo- 
sition put  forth  by  philosophers,  and  priests,  and  kings — after 
all  this,  I  say,  shall  the  servants  of  God,  at  this  time  of  day, 
allow  themselves  to  be  frightened  by  the  braying  of  an  ass 
The  infidel,  who  had  begun  to  show  symptoms  of  uneasiness 
from  the  time  the  fearless  servant  of  God  fixed  his  terribly 
searching  eye  upon  him,  when  he  came  to  the  climax  of  the 
interrogation,  was  completely  broken  down,  and  dropped  his 
head  in  evident  confusion. 


306  THE  HEROES  OF  METHODISM. 


DUNHAM  AND  THE  AMEN. 

Dunham  was  distinguished  for  fidehty,  faith,  and  prayer, 
as  well  as  for  wit  and  sarcasm.  Religion  was  much 
injured  by  the  war  of  1812,  and  continued  very  low  for 
some  time  afterward ;  but  a  few  held  on,  and  Dunham  con- 
tinued to  preach  under  many  discouragements.  One  day  he 
was  preaching  with  more  than  usual  animation,  when  some 
in  the  congregation  responded  "Amen,"  to  some  good  senti- 
ment that  was  advanced.  On  which  the  preacher  paused 
and  looked  about  the  congregation,  and  said,  in  his  usual 
heavy  and  deliberate  manner :  "  Amen,  do  I  hear  ?  I 
didn't  know  that  there  was  religion  enough  left  to  raise  an 
amen.  Well,  then,  A-men — so  be  it  !"  He  then  resumed 
his  sermon.  But  it  really  appeared,  by  a  glorious  and  ex- 
tensive revival  which  took  place  very  soon  after,  that  this 
amen  was  like  the  premonitory  rumble  of  distant  thunder 
before  a  sweeping,  fructifying  rain. 

DUNHAM  AND  THE  WOMAN  POSSESSED  WITH  THE 
DEVIL. 

A  woman  who  first  lost  her  piety,  and  then  her  reason,  was 
visited  by  Dunham,  and  pronounced  to  be  possessed  with  the 
deviiy  He  kneeled  down  in  front  of  her,  and,  though  she 
blasphemed  and  spit  in  his  face  till  the  spittle  ran  down  on 
the  floor,  he  never  flinched  nor  moved  a  muscle ;  but  went 
on  praying  and  exorcising  by  turns,  shaming  the  devil  for 
"  getting  into  the  weaker  vessel,"  and  telling  him  to  "  get 
out  of  her,"  till  she  became  subdued,  fell  on  her  knees,  and 
began  to  pray  and  wrestle  with^od  for  mercy ;  and  never 
rose  till  she  got  up  from  her  knees  in  possession  of  reason, 
and  rejoicing  in  the  light  of  God's  countenance.  I  relate  it 
as  I  got  it ;  and  the  reader  may  make  what  he  pleases  of 
the  occurrence. 


EEV.  SMITH  AMOLD. 


14 


THE  REV.  SMITH  ARNOLD. 


Smith  Arnold  was  born  in  Waterbuiy,  New-Haven 
county,  Connecticut,  March  31st,  1*766.  His  parents  were 
members  of  what  was  then  the  EstabHshed  Church.  His 
father  was  educated  for  a  physician,  but  the  French  war 
proved  more  attractive  than  the  saddle-bags,  and  he  yielded 
to  its  allurements.  Smith's  mother  died  a  few  months  after 
he  was  born,  and  he  was  placed  with  an  uncle,  by  whom  he 
was  reared  and  educated. 

The  Revolutionary  War,  which  broke  out  when  he  was 
nine  years  old,  occupied  the  attention  of  the  people  so  much, 
that  education  and  rehgious  teaching  suffered  greatly;  so 
that,  although  Smith  grew  up  without  any  marked  vices, 
he  was  a  thoughtless,  wild,  giddy  young  man,  a  lover  of 
pleasure,  and  quite  regardless  of  religion  as  he  afterward 
understood  it.  At  the  age  of  twenty-four  he  married  Erea 
Judd,  the  daughter  of  a  widow,  and  of  the  old  Puritan  stock. 
She  was  a  sister  of  the  late  Dr.  Judd,  of  Oneida  county,  New- 
York,  whose  son  has  been  so  long  and  so  honourably  connected 
with  the  Sandwich  Islands.  She  was  two  years  his  junior, 
and  having  been  trained  on  a  better  pattern  than  he,  the 
union  was  greatly  to  his  advantage;  and,  indeed,  to  the 
advantage  of  both.  They  lived  together  most  happily,  to 
a  good  old  age,  died  within  a  few  months  of  each  other, 
and  were  buried  at  Mount  Hope,  Rochester,  in  the  same 
grave. 

HEAKS  METHODIST  PREACHING. 

In  a  few  months  after  their  marriage  they  took  a  farm  on 
shares  in  Montgomery  county.  New- York,  where  they  first 


310 


THE  HEROES  OF  METHODISM. 


heard  a  Methodist  preacher.  It  was  Philip  Wager.  He 
preached  at  the  house  of  Phineas  Leach,  in  the  fall  of  1790. 
He  was  followed,  two  or  tliree  weeks  after,  by  Jonathan 
Xewman,  who  preached  in  the  same  place.  Preaching  was 
an  event  in  those  days,  and  everybody  went ;  but  on  this  oc- 
casion his  wife  had  a  young  child,  which  prevented  her 
from  leaving  home,  and  he  went  alone.  When  he  returned 
she  asked  him  how  he  liked  the  preacher.  The  answer  was 
not  favourable.  He  said  he  was  a  very  singular  man,  and 
told  him  all  about  his  prayers  out  of  a  book,  and  pronounced 
such  praying  to  be  nonsense.  " '  Yv'hen  you  pray,'  said  he, 
and  he  looked  over  to  where  I  sat,  '  you  say,  "  Our  P'ather, 
who  art  in  heaven :"  whereas  if  you  prayed  the  truth  you 
would  say,  "  Our  Father,  who  art  in  hell.'"  This  made  me 
angry,  and  I  got  up  and  left  the  house ;  for  I  knew  that 
somebodv  had  been  tellinor  him  that  I  was  a  Churchman. 
As  I  left,  he  called  after  me  and  said :  '  Take  care,  young 
man,  lest  God  shall  smite  thee,  thou  whited  wall.'  To  which 
I  answered  :  '  Better  take  care  of  yourself,  or  somebody  will 
smite  besides  God  I'" 

The  next  day  he  was  greatly  ashamed  of  his  conduct ;  and, 
having  occasion  to  go  to  the  house  of  Mr.  Leach  on  business, 
his  state  of  mind  was  not  improved  by  meeting  the  preacher 
at  the  gate.  He  had  his  saddle-bags  on  his  arm,  and  was 
about  to  depart ;  but  he  seized  the  occasion  to  talk  kindly  to 
the  offended  man,  and  urged  him  to  a  better  course ;  nor 
did  his  words  fall  to  the  ground :  on  the  other  hand,  they 
made  a  strong  impression,  and  long  after,  when  Mr.  Arnold 
began  to  feel  concern  about  his  soul,  he  longed  to  see  the 
preacher  who  told  him  about  his  formal  prayers. 

LIFE  IX  THE  WOODS. 

Deacon  Walker,  one  of  his  neighbours,  whom  he  calls  "  a 
zealous,  praying  man,"  was  about  to  remove  to  a  new  town- 
ship in  Heikimer  county,  to  settle,  and  prevailed  cn  Mr. 


SMITH  ARNOLD. 


311 


Arnold  and  his  wife  to  go  along.  In  that  day  all  central 
New- York  was  a  dense  forest,  and  the  pioneer  settlers  were 
only  beginning  to  take  up  the  land  and  occupy  it.  The 
region  in  which  these  friends  had  purchased  was  in  all  the 
glory  of  its  original  solitude ;  and  the  adventurous  undertook 
to  occupy  it  in  mid-winter,  when  the  snow  was  four  feet 
deep. 

On  the  18th  of  February,  1791,  they  arrived,  with  their 
families,  within  a  mile  and  a  half  of  the  spot.  Here  they 
paused  for  a  while  till  they  could  provide  a  shelter,  and  Mr. 
Arnold  and  Richard  Dodge,  another  of  the  party,  took  up 
their  abode  in  a  log-house,  which  a  Mr.  Hatfield  had  built  for 
his  own  use,  but  which  was  not  yet  ready  to  occupy.  Be- 
yond this  house  there  was  no  beaten  track,  and  all  was  a 
deep,  voiceless  solitude.  Having  arranged  their  family 
affairs,  they  made  their  way  through  the  snow  to  their  pos- 
session, and  began  the  work  of  cutting  down  the  trees,  and 
building,  of  the  logs,  such  extemporaneous  habitations  as  the 
woods  afforded.  They  took  their  dinners,  worked  through 
the  day,  and  returned  at  night  to  sleep.  Their  industry  was 
a  good  deal  quickened  by  the  tide  of  emigration  which  was 
setting  in  from  behind,  and  which  necessarily  brought  up  at 
the  end  of  the  beaten  way,  and  sought  in  vain  for  any  other 
shelter  than  was  afforded  by  the  solitary  log-house.  It  was 
a  building  of  very  primitive  construction  and  limited  dimen- 
sions, being  only  eighteen  feet  square ;  but  its  capacity  and 
its  ability  to  contain  were  wonderful.  Before  the  pioneer  party 
could  get  ready  to  leave,  it  sheltered  no  less  than  fourteen 
families. 

Under  such  circumstances  no  time  was  to  be  lost,  and  as 
soon  as  the  forest  houses  were  in  a  condition  to  receive  their 
future  inmates,  the  removal  was  undertaken.  But  moving 
was  not  a  very  easy  matter,  with  snow  four  feet  deep  and  no 
road  broken.  The  mode  in  which  it  was  accomplished  may, 
therefore,  be  worth  repeating ;  especially  as  it  shows  a  genius^ 
for  extemporizing  under  the  pressure  of  necessity.    Mr.  Ar- 


312  THE  HEROES  OF  METHODISM. 


nold  borrowed  a  bullock  of  one  of  his  emigrating  neighbours, 
and  having  got  his  effects  together,  and  placed  them,  with 
his  wife  and  child,  on  a  sled,  he  fastened  his  ox  to  the  load, 
and  taking  the  vacant  side  of  the  yoke  himself,  gave  his 
beast  the  path,  and,  thus  equipped,  in  due  time  reached  his 
new  habitation. 

It  was  a  building  not  very  remarkable  for  its  architectural 
appointments.  It  was  built  wholly  of  logs,  notched  together 
at  the  ends,  and  laid  on  the  snow,  packed  down  by  the  feet, 
as  a  foundation  ;  the  roof  and  floor  were  of  logs  split  and 
somewhat  trimmed  with  the  axe ;  and  the  smoke-escape,  or 
chimney,  was  of  sticks  defended  from  the  sparks  by  clay.  In 
the  hurry  to  remove,  only  half  of  the  floor  was  laid,  and  the 
snow  bottom  did  not  add  to  its  attractions.  But  a  roaring 
fire  was  soon  blazing  in  the  apartment,  and  the  pioneers 
set  themselves  down  in  their  own  home  with  a  feeling  of 
independence  and  satisfaction  not  often  experienced  by  a 
young  couple  on  the  Fifth  Avenue. 

A  WARNING. 

They  had  been  moved  only  a  short  time,  and  just  began  to 
feel  how  rich  they  were  in  their  associations  and  friendships, 
when  the  circle  of  their  joys  was  broken  by  the  sudden  and 
alarming  death  of  Deacon  Walker,  the  father  of  the  settle- 
ment. While  at  work  in  the  woods  clearing  the  land  in 
view  of  the  approaching  season  for  sowing,  he  was  struck  by 
the  limb  of  a  falling  tree,  and  instantly  killed.  This  was  a 
very  impressive  and  sorrowful  dispensation,  there  in  the  deep 
solitude  of  the  forest.  It  came  most  unexpectedly,  and  broke, 
in  a  moment,  the  little  circle  of  dear  and  intimate  friends, 
who  were  thrown  almost  as  much  together  as  members  of 
the  same  family. 

The  effect  of  this  sudden  stroke  was  deepened  in  Mr.  Ar- 
nold by  a  startling  dream,  in  which  he  heard  the  last  trump 
ring  loud  and  clear  through  the  vast  vault  of  heaven,  calling 


SMITH  ARNOLD. 


313 


the  dead  to  judgment.  The  celestial  notes  rang  in  his  ears 
long  after  he  awoke,  and  he  lay  there  trembling  and  weep- 
ing, as  if  the  scene  had  been  a  reality,  and  not  a  dream. 
For  the  first  time  in  his  life,  he  saw  how  great  a  sinner  he 
was,  and  how  utterly  lost  without  a  Saviour.  After  a  while 
he  fell  asleep,  but  he  soon  awoke  again  with  a  feeling  of 
alarm,  and  those  clear,  clarion  notes  were,  to  his  startled 
imagination,  still  ringing  through  the  heavens.  He  could 
not  get  rid  of  the  illusion,  and  he  felt  an  agony  of  sorrow 
for  which  there  was  no  relief. 

In  his  wretchedness  the  night  lingered  long,  and  when  the 
morning  broke  he  sent  for  Benjamin  Cole,  a  Presbyterian 
neighbour,  who  gave  him  some  good  advice,  but  was  not 
able  to  mete  out  the  instruction  that  was  needed.  His  wife 
pressed  him  to  read  the  Bible  and  pray  in  the  family ;  but 
he  was  not  persuaded  by  her  counsel,  and  his  convictions 
gradually  subsided,  though  he  continued  to  long  for  religious 
instruction,  and  desired  especially  to  see  the  Methodist  min- 
ister who  had  talked  so  harshly  about  his  formal  prayers. 

In  the  fall  of  the  following  year  (1*792)  Mr.  Arnold  heard 
of  a  meeting  five  miles  distant,  which  was  to  be  attended  by 
a  Methodist,  and  he  at  once  determined  to  go.  On  reaching 
the  spot,  what  was  his  gratification  to  find  the  same  Jona- 
than Newman  that  he  had  so  desired  to  see.  The  discourse, 
as  before,  somehow  or  other,  was  levelled  exactl)?^  at  him. 
The  preacher  told  him  all  about  the  workings  of  his  mind, 
his  convictions  for  sin,  his  vain  excuses,  his  good  resolutions, 
and  all  his  varied  ex;periences.  The  effect  was  to  renew  his 
broken  spirit  and  bring  back  his  sorrow  of  heart.  He  put 
his  head  down  and  wept  bitterly,  but  all  in  silence,  and  let 
no  man  know  his  state.  In  two  weeks  Mr.  Newman  preach- 
ed there  -again,  and  Mr.  Arnold  was  once  more  a  hearer.  Ho 
now  made  himself  known  to  the  preacher,  and  before  they 
parted,  it  was  arranged  that  his  house  should,  henceforth, 
be  one  of  the  regular  preaching  places  on  the  circuit. 

The  first  quarterly  meeting  after  the  events  just  narrated, 


314 


THE  HEROES  OF  METHODISM. 


was  held  near  Oriskany  Creek,  at  the  house  of  Robert  Parks,  in 
Westmoreland.  Quarterly  meetings  were  then  great  occa- 
sions, and  were  looked  to  as  special  means  of  grace.  Mr. 
Arnold  had  never  heard  of  such  meetings;  but  Mr.  New- 
man urged  him  so  strongly  to  go,  that  he  was  at  last  per- 
suaded. The  meeting  was  in  Mr.  Parks's  barn,  and  the  ser- 
mon on  Saturday  produced  a  great  effect.  Mr.  Arnold  went 
home  with  a  Mr.  Robbins,  who,  like  himself,  was  thoroughly 
"  sick  of  sin."  His  host  asked  him,  on  retiring  at  night, 
to  attend  to  family  prayers,  and  he  kneeled  down  to  comply, 
but  could  not  utter  a  word. 

On  the  next  morning  there  was  a  love-feast  at  Mr.  Parks's 
house,  and  public  preaching  in  the  barn.  Mr.  Arnold  had 
no  idea  of  a  love-feast,  but  his  friend  Luther  Richards  took 
him  by  the  hand  and  passed  him  in.  The  speaking  soon 
began,  and  one  after  another  rose  and  told  of  their  joys. 
His  heart  was  melted,  and  his  eyes  were  a  fountain  of  tears. 
Among  those  that  spoke  was  an  aged  Indian,  who  declared 
that  he  knew  this  Jesus  forty  years  before,  and  had  loved 
him  ever  since.  He  was  deeply  affected.  "Ah,"  thought 
he,  "that  I  knew  as  much  about  the  Gospel  as  this  heathen." 
"  I  gazed  on  him  with  wonder  and  admiration,  as  the  tear? 
rolled  down  his  furrowed  cheeks,  and  fully  determined  that 
his  God  should  thenceforth  be  my  God.  In  an  instant," 
he  continued,  "  all  my  guilt  seemed  to  be  gone,  and  I  felt 
unspeakably  happy.  The  burden  was  rolled  from  my  back, 
and  I  was  enabled  to  rejoice  in  the  Lord." 

At  this  little  love-feast  five  souls  were  brought  to  a  knowl- 
edge cf  the  truth  ;  and  three  of  them  afterward  preached  the 
Gospel.  Others  were  also  converted  at  the  preaching  in  the 
barn.  Mr.  Arnold  was  exceedingly  joyful  and  happy,  but  he 
could  not  think  what  it  was  that  inade  him  feel  so.  He  had 
no  idea  that  this  was  religion.  He  wanted  to  hear  singing 
and  praying  all  the  while,  and  wanted  to  have  others  feel 
just  as  he  did ;  and  was  sure  they  would,  if  they  could  only 
bear  the  same  wonderful  preaching.    On  his  way  home  he 


SMiTH  ARNOLD.  315 

had  to  ride  thi-ough  the  deep,  gloomy  forest  for  ten  miles, 
and  that,  too,  in  the  night,  and  alone ;  but  the  woods  seemed 
to  be  light  about  him,  and  he  made  the  leafy  canopy  vocal 
with  his  shouts  of  joy. 

This  exultant  state  continued  for  three  days,  when  one 
of  his  neighbour's  oxen  provoked  him  by  breaking  into  his 
field,  and  he  gave  way  to  a  storm  of  passion.  His  peace  of 
mind  fled  in  a  moment,  and  a  long  season  of  temptation, 
darkness,  and  gloom  followed,  in  which  he  sought  his  bur- 
den again,  and  took  little  satisfaction  in  the  pleasures  of  the 
world,  while  he  found  little  encouragement  in  his  attempts  to 
live  the  life  of  the  Christian. 


A  CLASS  FORMED. 

Still  he  did  not  abandon  his  determination  to  be  a 
Christian  ;  and  when  Mr.  Newman  proposed  the  formation 
of  a  class,  he  warmly  seconded  the  movement,  and  was  one 
of  the  six  that  enrolled  themselves  as  members.  His  fiither 
had  moved  into  the  neighbourhood,  and  though  a  commu- 
nicant and  an  habitual  attendant  on  the  services  of  the  Epis^ 
copal  Church  for  many  years,  he  now  began  to  feel  that  his 
religion  was  not  sufficient ;  and  was  so  concerned  on  ac- 
count of  his  soul  that  he  well-nigh  fell  into  a  state  of  despair. 
He,  too,  embraced  the  opportunity  which  the  formation  of 
the  class  presented ;  and  it  consisted  at  first  of  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Arnold,  senior,  and  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Arnold,  junior,  and  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Phineas  Pood. 

But  although  he  attended  his  class,  and  went  to  all  the 
religious  meetings  within  his  reach,  he  did  not  experience  a  re- 
turn of  his  former  joy,  and  felt  no  freedom  in  acts  of  devotion. 
He  was  often  urged  to  vocal  prayer,  but  he  always  declined ; 
and  his  class-leader  finally  said  to  him  :  "  Brother  Arnold,  you 
must  take  up  your  cross  and  pray,  or  you  will  be  damned." 
But  even  the  harsh  alternative,  thus  presented,  did  not  servo 

the  desired  purpose :  he  continued  a  silent  worshipper. 
14* 


316 


THE  HEROES  OF  METHODISM. 


At  length,  at  a  public  meeting  at  Paris,  (Oneida  county,) 
he  heard  a  serraon,  by  the  Rev.  David  Bartine,  on  the  witness 
of  the  Spirit,  which  opened  his  eyes  in  regard  to  his  backslid- 
ing, and  taught  him  that  Christ  was  his  refuge,  and  that  the 
life  of  the  Christian  was  a  warfare,  requiring  watchfulness  and 
effort.  He  was  satisfied,  from  this  discourse,  that  he  once 
had  this  witness  of  the  Spirit ;  and  was  now  taught  that  it 
was  his  privilege  to  have  it  again.  After  the  service  he  had 
an  interview  with  the  preacher,  and  said  to  him :  "  If  you 
have  declared  the  truth,  I  am  almost  persuaded  that  I  have 
been  justified."  Mr.  Bartine,  after  hearing  his  experience, 
assured  him  that  he  had  been  converted,  and  exhorted  him 
to  make  known  to  others  what  he  had  felt  and  enjoyed. 
Accordingly,  after  the  sermon  on  the  following  day,  he  arose 
from  his  seat,  and  with  a  trembling  voice  told  what  he  had 
once  enjoyed,  and  how  unfaithful  he  had  been  to  the  teach- 
ings of  the  Spirit.  At  the  moment  he  was  weighed  down 
with  the  burden  and  the  duty ;  but  before  he  reached  hom6 
the  Lord  swept  away  the  clouds  which  had  so  long  obscured 
his  prospects,  and  he  felt  a  return  of  that  heaven-born  peace 
and  joy  which  had  so  gladdened  his  heart  many  months  before. 

A  CHANGE. 

His  tongue  was  now  loosed ;  and,  instead  of  holding  back  as 
before,  he  felt  as  if  he  wanted  to  sing,  and  pray,  and  rejoice 
all  the  while.  "  I  could  now,"  says  he,  "  pray  and  praise 
with  all  my  heart,  and  wanted  everybody  to  come  and  drink 
of  the  fountain  which  had  so  satisfied  all  my  cravings." 
Nor  was  this  yearning  for  the  souls  of  others  without  its 
fruits.  His  zeal,  his  sincerity,  the  change  that  was  manifest 
in  him,  all  bore  testimony  that  he  had  learned  in  the  school 
of  Christ ;  and  his  neighbours,  impressed  by  what  they  saw 
and  heard,  were  "  pierced  to  the  heart,"  and  began  to  inquire 
the  way  of  salvation. 

He  was  soon  appointed  to  lead  the  little  class ;  and  its 


SMITH  ARNOLD. 


817 


numbers  rapidly  swelled  from  six  to  sixty.  His  aged  father 
was  one  of  the  first  fruits  of  his  new-born  zeal,  and  was  brought 
to  feel  that  ho  had  an  unclouded  title  to  a  heavenly  mansion. 
His  step-mother,  a  formal  professor  of  long  standing,  was  klso 
made  anew  in  Christ  Jesus.  In  short,  the  whole  neighbour- 
hood seemed  to  catch  sparks  of  the  hallowed  fire,  and  to  be 
moved  toward  the  spiritual  life  in  Christ  Jesus. 

He  was  always  a  man  of  exuberant  spirits  and  sanguine 
temperament;  and  the  new  inspiration  by  which  he  was 
moved  seemed  to  lift  him  out  of  the  world  and  carry  him  to 
the  verge  of  heaven.  These  were  years,  to  him,  of  ecstatic 
bliss ;  he  was  as  happy  as  a  man  in  the  body  could  well  be, 
and  the  glow  in  his  own  breast  was  widely  communicated  to 
others. 

HIS  THEOLOGICAL  COURSE. 

The  great  demand  of  the  times  for  a  Methodist  preacher  of 
that  day  was  a  thorough  knowledge  of  the  arguments  against 
predestination.  The  prevailing  theology  was  that  of  John 
Calvin  ;  and  Methodism  was  a  sort  of  running  hand  to  hand 
fight  with  the  disciples  of  that  creed.  Mr.  Arnold  was  not 
much  skilled  in  lore  of  any  kind,  and  least  of  all  in  the  mys- 
teries of  theology.  He  knew  much  more  about  chopping 
logs,  clearing  land,  and  making  potash,  than  about  creeds 
and  ologies ;  but  he  felt  a  free  salvation,  and  he  proclaimed 
it  because  it  was  the  offspring  of  his  own  abounding  love. 

An  opportune  sickness,  however,  gave  him  an  unwelcome 
leisure,  which  was  advantageously  employed.  He  was  seized 
with  the  prevailing  ague,  and  for  nearly  two  years  his  field 
labours  were  in  great  part  suspended.  This  was  a  severe 
visitation  for  his  family,  now  rapidly  increasing;  but  his 
wife  was  a  Christian  heroine,  and  bore  poverty,  sickness,  and 
want  without  a  murmur.  It  was  owing  to  her  industry  and 
energy  that  in  these  years  of  affliction  a  show  of  comfort 
was  still  maintained  in  the  household.    On  his  part  they 


S18 


THE  HEROES  OF  METHODISM. 


Tvere  the  years  of  his  theological  studies.  He  was  accus- 
tomed to  lie  on  his  back  in  his  bed,  and  read  himself  full  of 
Fletcher's  Checks  and  Wesley's  Sermons,  which,  besides  his 
Bible,  were  the  only  books  within  his  reach.  He  thus  grew 
famihar  with  Wesley's  divinity,  and  with  the  crushing  argu- 
ments of  Fletcher,  the  sweetest  spiritual  polemic  that  ever 
wielded  the  weapons  of  debate. 

•  LICENSED  TO  EXHOKT. 

The  idea  of  preaching,  however,  had  not,  as  yet,  entered 
his  mind ;  but  praying,  singing,  exhorting,  and  leading  others 
to  Christ  were  his  daily  food.  At  one  of  the  quarterly 
meeting  conferences,  which  was,  we  suppose,  as  now,  a  mere 
business  meeting,  he  was  invited  by  the  minister  to  tell  his 
experience.  The  Rev.  John  M'Clasky  was  the  presiding 
elder,  and  was  present.  Mr.  Arnold  had  asked  no  license, 
nor  thought  of  any  official  relation  to  the  Church,  other  than 
that  of  class-leader  which  he  held  ;  but  before  he  left  he  was 
surprised  by  being  commissioned  as  an  exhorter,  and  charged 
with  the  duty  of  going  out  from  his  own  neighbourhood  to 
hold  religious  meetings.  This  enlarged  his  sphere  of  action, 
and  wherever  he  went,  he  carried  with  him  the  same  warm 
heart,  the  same  flaming  zeal,  and  new  and  greater  conquests 
awaited  him. 

OFFICIAL  RESPONSIBILITIES. 

Some  of  Mr.  Arnold's  experiences  as  an  officer  of  the  Church 
may  be  worth  narrating.  His  first  appointment,  after  the 
license  was  given  him,  had  new  responsibilities  attending  it, 
and  he  undertook  it  with  a  heavy  heart.  He  did  not,  how- 
ever, shrink  from  the  duty,  but  prayed  and  sung,  and  ex- 
horted to  the  best  of  his  ability,  though  not  with  his  usual 
freedom.  He  felt  unhappy  under  the  burden  of  his  official 
cares ;  but,  on  his  way  home,  his  soul  was  filled  with  joy 


SMITH  ARNOLD. 


919 


and  peace,  and  he  was  fully  compensated  for  what  he  had 
suffered,  and  took  courage  to  proceed.  His  next  appoint- 
ment was  one  of  more  importance,  but  he  undertook  it  with 
a  greater  degi-ee  of  confidence.  He  spoke  with  freedom,  and 
came  away  well  satisfied  with  himself,  and  thinking  that  he 
should  have  great  happiness  in  the  result.  But  the  sweet 
peace  and  joy  which  he  had  experienced  before,  came  not  to 
his  bosom,  but  in  its  stead,  darkness  and  despondency,  which 
soon  cured  him  of  his  self-sufficiency,  and  made  him  feel 
that  he  was  the  poorest  and  weakest  of  all  God's  creatures. 

I  then  learned,"  said  he,  "  for  the  first  time,  what  the  apos- 
tle meant  by  those  words :  '  When  I  am  weak  then  am  I 
strong.* " 

THE  SEELEY  FAMILY. 

In  lYOY  his  old  friend,  Jonathan  Newman,  was  on  the  cir- 
cuit again,  and  had  a  sacramental  meeting  at  Westmore- 
land, where  he  had  promised  to  baptize  (by  immersion)  a 
young  brother  by  the  name  of  Daniel  Seeley.  Mr.  Arnold 
was  urged  to  attend  the  meeting,  and  joined  his  friend  ac- 
cordingly. On  Saturday,  after  the  sermon,  he  gave  an  ex- 
hortation with  his  usual  earnestness  and  freedom,  under 
which  the  congregation  was  greatly  moved.  When  the 
services  were  over,  he  and  Mr.  Newman  went  together  to  the 
^house  of  Mr.  Seeley  to  spend  the  night.  Mr.  Seeley's  young 
wife  was  in  the  company,  and  the  proceedings  at  the  meet- 
ing, especially  the  noise  under  Mr.  Arnold's  exhortation, 
had  greatly  displeased  her.  She  was  also  annoyed  at  the 
announcement  that  her  husband  would  be  baptized  on  the 
following  morning. 

Before  they  had  gone  far,  the  "  evil  spirit"  which  had 
come  upon  her  began  to  manifest  itself.  Mr.  Seeley  chanced 
to  remark,  that  he  did  not  know  this  Brother  Arnold  ;  and 
yet,  he  said,  it  seemed  as  if  he  had  met  him  before.  "  Well,'* 
I'csponded  Mrs.  Seeley,  "  I  know  him,  if  you  don't.   He  was 


320 


THE  HER0E3  OF  METHODISM. 


at  the  great  quarterly  meeting  at  Snowbush,  and  exhorted 
as  if  he  was  crazy.  He  stamped  with  his  feet,  and  slapped 
with  his  hands,  and  the  people  shouted  and  acted  as  if  the 
devil  was  in  them  ;  and  I  believe  ho  was." 

This  was  said  very  tartly,  and  in  Mr.  Arnold's  hearing. 
Her  husband  was  deeply  mortified,  and  tried  to  check  her, 
but  his  efforts  only  made  matters  worse.  "  What  do  I  caro 
for  your  Methodist  priests  ?"  she  exclaimed  in  reply  ;  "  they 
have  nothing  to  expect  from  me." 

In  this  mood  she  continued  during  the  ride  from  the 
church  to  the  house.  Arrived  there,  the  two  preachers 
went  to  the  barn  with  Mr.  Seeley  to  look  after  their  horses, 
and  then  they  returned  to  the  house.  It  was  a  comfortable, 
well-furnished  dwelling  for  those  days,  and  everything  about 
it  had  the  air  of  abundance  and  enjoyment ;  but  its  mistress 
was  as  unhappy  as  an  evil  heart  and  evil  tempers  could 
make  her.  She  sat  down  in  the  corner,  with  her  only  child 
on  her  knee,  and  assailed  her  husband  and  his  guests  with 
bitter  reproaches,  while  she  refused  to  do  aught  to  adminis- 
ter to  their  comfort.  She  said  that  Seeley  would  die  a  beg- 
gar ;  that  he  would  give  away  all  that  he  had  to  the  noisy, 
shouting  Methodists,  and  that  his  wife  and  child  would  bo 
left  to  starve. 

Mr.  Seeley  sought  to  appease  her  with  words  of  kindness, 
but  in  vain.  He  said  that  his  house  and  farm  were  paid  for, 
and  he  did  not  owe  more  than  six  dollars  in  the  world.  "  So, 
my  dear,"  he  continued,  "  I  think  you  may  get  these  friends 
something  to  eat,  without  fear  of  the  poor-house."  But  she 
peremptorily  refused.  So  her  husband  went  to  the  pantry, 
and  set  out  such  provisions  as  it  afforded,  and  asked  his 
friends  and  his  wife  to  sit  by  and  partake.  His  wife,  how- 
ever, declined  the  invitation.  "  So,"  says  Mr.  Arnold  in  tell- 
ing the  story,  "  we  told  her  that  she  was  not  happy." 
"No,"  she  replied,  "I  am  not,  and  never  expect  to  be,  as 
long  as  Seeley  goes  after  the  Methodists." 

When  the  hour  arrived  to  retire  for  the  night,  Mr.  Seeley 


SMITH  ARNOLD. 


321 


took  the  candle  and  said  :  "  My  dear,  where  are  these  friends 
to  sleep  ?"  "  What  do  I  care  ?"  she  replied.  "  Let  them 
go  to  the  barn  or  to  the  hog-pen,  for  all  that  I  care." 

Her  poor  husband,  full  of  sorrow  and  mortification,  said 
no  more,  but  led  them  to  an  unoccupied  room,  where,  after 
praying  together  for  the  afflicted  husband,  and  still  more 
afflicted  wife,  they  lay  down  to  rest.  In  the  morning  they 
found  Mr.  Seeley  in  an  ecstasy  of  joy.  His  face  was  radiant 
with  a  heavenly-minded  sw'eetness,  and  his  language  was 
rich  with  the  vocabulary  of  heaven.  So  full  liad  his  soul 
been  of  the  waters  of  life,  and  so  affluent  did  they  roll  up 
from  the  exhaustless  fountain,  that  he  had  not  closed  his  eyes 
in  sleep,  but  had  rejoiced  the  night  away.  "  But,"  he  add- 
ed, "  my  poor  wife  is  as  wretched  as  the  devil  can  make  her. 
She  says,  if  I  was  to  be  baptized  by  the  Baptists,  she  would 
not  feel  so  badly ;  but  she  can  never  consent  to  my  being  a 
Methodist." 

He  got  his  guests  their  breakfast  as  he  had  done  their 
supper,  and  they  all  went  on  foot  to  the  creek  where  the 
baptismal  ceremonies  were  to  be  performed.  Mrs.  Seeley 
lost  no  opportunity  to  show  her  disapprobation  of  the  pro- 
ceedings. She  remonstrated  and  cried  aloud  during  the 
services  at  the  water,  and  when,  at  the  close,  the  minister 
knelt  down  to  pray,  he  dealt  with  her  after  the  fashion  of 
plainness  peculiar  to  those  times,  and  told  the  Lord  how  un- 
happy she  was,  how  she  persecuted  the  Lord  that  bought 
her,  how  she  was  tempted  of  the  devil,  and  how  she  was 
kicking  against  the  pricks ;  but  it  had  no  other  effect  than 
to  exasperate  her  the  more. 

Then  came  the  love-feast  and  the  public  preaching,  when 
they  went  back  to  Mr.  Seeley's  to  get  their  horses,  in  order 
to  attend  preaching  at  another  place,  some  miles  oflf,  in  the 
afternoon.  Mr.  Newman  went  immediately  on  his  way,  but 
Mr.  Arnold  lingered  for  a  season  to  drop  some  words  of  com- 
fort in  the  bosom  of  his  afflicted  friend.  On  returning  from 
the  field  where  he  had  been  to  catch  his  horse,  he  met  Mr. 


322 


THE  HEROES  OF  METHODISM. 


Seeley  at  the  barn.  His  eyes  were  full  of  tears,  and  his 
heart  ready  to  break.  "  Brother  Arnold,"  he  said,  "  I  am 
afraid  I  ought  not  to  go  with  you  this  afternoon ;  my  wife 
refuses  to  go  along,  and  the  state  of  her  mind  is  such  that 
I  fear  my  course  will  be  the  cause  of  a  separation  between 
us." 

Mr.  Arnold's  reply  was  characteristic,  and  an  admirable 
type  of  the  man  :  "  Brother  Seeley,"  said  he,  "  Satan  has 
got  about  to  the  end  of  his  chain  :  if  you  yield  now,  he  will 
triumph  over  you  forever.  Be  kind  to  your  wife,  but  go 
straight  forward  in  the  way  of  your  duty."  So  sajdng,  he 
shook  him  by  the  hand,  and  mounting  his  horse,  rode  off  to 
the  afternoon  appointment. 

Mr.  Seeley,  on  thinking  the  matter  over,  determined  to 
act  according  to  the  advice  which  he  had  received.  So,  after 
having  saddled  his  horse,  he  went  into  the  house  for  his  coat. 
Mrs.  Seeley  met  him  at  the  door  in  a  storm  of  passion. 
"  Seeley,"  said  she,  "  you  are  going  ofi"  again  with  the 
Methodists,  and  we  may  as  well  have  a  settlement  at  once. 
If  you  go,  I  will  not  live  with  you  another  day,  but  will  take 
my  child  and  go  to  my  friends  at  AYhitestown." 

Mr.  Seeley  understood  that  she  was  in  earnest,  and  her 
words  went  to  his  heart ;  but  remembering  that  "  Satan  had 
got  nearly  to  the  end  of  his  chain,"  he  took  courage,  and 
told  her,  in  a  calm  and  determined  voice,  that  he  should  be 
sorry  to  have  her  go,  but  that  it  would  not  prevent  him  from 
doing  what  he  understood  to  be  his  duty.  So  she  seized 
her  child,  threw  on  some  extra  clothing,  and  started  at  once 
on  foot  for  her  former  home.  At  the  same  time  Mr.  Seeley 
mounted  his  horse,  and  rode  slowly  in  another  direction  to- 
ward the  afternoon  meeting. 

Mrs.  Seeley  proceeded  vigorously  on  her  way,  her  steps  a 
gocKl  deal  quickened  by  passion,  till  she  reached  a  large  tree 
about  fifty  yards  from  the  house,  when  she  fell  heavily  to  the 
ground  and  screamed  aloud,  as  if  in  an  agony  of  distress. 
Her  husband  had  been  anxiously  watching  her  at  a  distance, 


SMITH  ARNOLD. 


323 


and  now,  seriously  alarnied,  dismounted  and  ran  to  her  re- 
lief. Her  child  had  fallen  from  her  arras  and  rolled  unheed- 
ed down  the  hill,  and  she  was  exclaiming  with  a  sad  earn- 
estness, like  one  of  old,  "Lord  Jesus,  have  mercy  on  me  I 
Lord  Jesus,  have  mercy  on  me !"  As  soon-  as  she  saw 
her  husband  she  said  :  "  My  dear  husband,  can  you  forgive 
me  ?  You  have  always  been  a  kind  husband  to  me,  but  I 
have  treated  you  most  cruelly  !  O  how  wicked  I  have 
been !  Surely  my  day  of  grace  is  gone  :  I  am  damned  for- 
ever :  there  is  no  mercy  for  me !" 

Happy,  happy  husband!  That  moment  repaid  him  for 
all  that  he  had  endured  !  He  picked  up  his  child,  and  hold- 
ing it  in  his  arms,  knelt  there  by  his  prostrate  wife,  in  the 
street,  in  the  open  day,  and  there,  under  the  shadow  of  that 
friendly  tree,  poured  forth  his  soul  in  prayer  and  praise. 
The  child,  uneasy  and  frightened,  cried,  but  the  voice  of  sup- 
plication swelled  above  all  other  sounds  till  the  Lord  appear- 
ed to  the  poor  stricken  culprit,  and  she  burst  out  into  a 
strain  of  rejoicing  as  wild  and  exultant  as  her  sorrow  had 
been  deep  and  despondent. 

Mr.  Seeley  shouted  aloud,  and  was  almost  frantic  with  his 
transports  of  gladness ;  and  between  the  cries  of  the  child, 
the  exclamations  of  the  mother,  and  the  shouts  of  the  father, 
it  must  be  confessed  that  the  proceedings  took  their  course 
without  much  reference  to  propriety.  But  there  happened 
to  be  no  critical  spectators  looking  on,  and  heaven  was  so 
near  that  these  lesser  considerations  were  not  heeded.  At 
length  Mrs.  Seeley  sprang  to  her  feet,  and  throwing  her  arms 
about  the  neck  of  her  husband,  said,  "  Now  I  am  ready  to 
go  with  you  to  the  meeting;  yes,  and  I  will  go  to  glory 
with  you  too,  if  you  will  let  me  !" 

Accordingly,  no  time  was  lost,  and  Mrs.  Seeley,  mounting 
behind  her  husband,  as  was  the  custom  in  those  days,  they 
started  for  the  meeting,  united  heart  and  soul.  They  arrived 
late,  and  after  the  preaching  was  begun ;  but  Mrs.  Seeley  was 
too  full  to  keep  the  vessel  from  flowing  over.    "Gloiy  to 


324 


THE  HEROES  OF  METHODISM. 


God  !"  she  exclaimed  in  the  fulness  of  her  joy,  and,  rushing 
up  to  the  preacher,  clasped  his  hand  and  pressed  it  with  fervor; 
then  she  turned  to  Mr.  Arnold,  and  seized  his  outstretched 
hand  with  another  exclamation  of  "  Glory !"  to  which  the 
whole  congregation  responded  with  a  shout  that  ma^Ie  the 
walls  of  the  building  tremble.  From  that  day  Mrs.  Seeley 
and  her  excellent  husband  walked  together  over  the  journey 
of  life,  in  pleasant  conjugal  affection,  and  ornamented  the 
Christian  profession.  They  had  a  large  family ;  and  Mrs. 
Seeley  died  many  years  ago,  in  the  triumphs  of  faith,  and 
assured  of  an  everlasting  home  in  mansions  prepared  for  her 
on  high. 

CALL  TO  PREACH. 

The  first  intimation  that  Mr.  Aniold  had  of  a  call  to  preach 
the  Gospel  was  on  the  occasion  of  a  discourse  in  the  school- 
house  where  he  resided,  by  a  Presbyterian,  who  fearlessly 
laid  bare  the  enormities  of  the  Calvinistic  theory  of  salvation, 
and  defended  them  as  the  Gospel  of  Christ.  He  was  a  man 
of  ability,  and  handled  his  subject  with  so  much  skill  as  to 
make  an  impression  on  several  members  of  Mr.  Arnold's 
class.  '  On  his  way  home,  the  sermon  was  the  subject  of 
conversation  ;  and  he  was  asked  by  one  who  had  been  rather 
captivated  by  the  discourse  if  that  was  not  preaching.  He 
replied,  "  It  was  not  preaching  the  Gospel;  for,"  he  continued, 
"  if  Jesus  called  all  men  everywhere  to  repent,  he  meant  what 
he  said."  This  seemed  to  stagger  the  querist ;  but  it  did  not 
quiet  the  uneasy  feeling  that  the  discourse  had  inspired  in  his 
own  mind.  The  evil  tendency  of  such  preaching  had  impress- 
ed him  most  deeply,  and  the  idea  could  not  be  shaken  off. 
When  he  reached  home,  he  was  weighed  down  with  this 
overmastering  thought ;  and  the  more  he  talked  about  it 
and  thought  about  it,  the  worse  he  felt.  At  length  he  burst 
into  tears,  and  his  wife,  sympathizing  with  him,  was  moved 
to  tears  also.    They  then  knelt  down  together  and  prayed. 


SMITH  ARNOLD. 


825 


*'  When  I  arose,"  he  said,  in  giving  tlie  account,  "  the  Lord 
shed  abroad  his  love  in  my  heart,  and  I  v^^as  unspeakably 
happy."  He  then  turned  and  revealed  his  state  to  his  faith- 
ful companion.  "  My  distress  is  all  removed,"  he  said,  "  glory 
to  God  !  I  feel  as  if  I  could  do  anything  that  my  Lord  re- 
quires of  me."  In  an  instant  these  words  were  thundered  in 
his  ears :  "  Cry  aloud,  spare  not !  Lift  up  your  voice  like  a 
trumpet,  and  show  my  people  their  transgression,  and  the 
house  of  Israel  their  sin." 

In  this  connexion  the  pointed  suggestion  of  the  text  was 
not  to  be  mistaken,  and  the  idea  flashed  upon  him  so  sud- 
denly as  to  startle  him.  He  asked  his  wife  if  it  was  in  the 
Bible,  and  she  said  it  was.  "  Then,"  said  he,  "I  am  undone. 
Alas !  why  was  I  so  presumptuous  ?  I  am  a  man  of  unclean 
lips,  and  how  can  I  obey  ?  O,  what — what  shall  I  do  ?" 
Here  he  was  fairly  mastered  by  his  emotions;  and  his  wife, 
too,  fell  to  weeping,  and  said,  "  I  have  expected  this  for  a 
long  time."  He  rephed  with  astonishment,  "  How  could 
you  expect  it?"  but  before  he  got  an  answer  another  text  of 
Scripture  came  to  him  like  the  voice  of  inspiration,  saying, 
"  Go  into  my  vineyard,  and  labour,  and  whatsoever  is  right 
I  will  give  thee."  To  this  he  answered,  in  an  audible  voice, 
"  O  Lord,  I  cannot,  I  cannot  But  from  this  moment  the 
burden  was  upon  him,  and  he  never  got  rid  of  it  till  he 
answered  the  call. 

ARNOLD  AND  THE  REV.  WM.  KEITH. 

Among  those  who  were  brought  to  the  knowledge  of  the 
truth  about  this  time,  by  Mr.  Arnold's  instrumentality,  was 
the  late  Rev.  William  Keith.  He  was  living  with  his  broth- 
er-in-law, at  no  great  distance,  and  went  with  Mr.  A.  to  a 
quarterly  meeting,  where  his  heart  was  touched,  and  he  re- 
turned clothed  with  the  spirit  of  Christ.  The  Methodists 
were  then  a  "  sect  everywhere  spoken  against ;"  and  when 
his  brother-in-law  learned  that  he  was  determined  to  associate 


826 


THE  HEROES  OF  METHODISM. 


himself  with  these  outcasts,  he  deHberately  turned  him  out 
of  doors.  He  was  immediately  received  into  Mr.  Arnold's 
family,  and  remained  there  for  many  months,  during  which 
time  he  helped  to  work  the  farm.  He  was  a  young  man  of 
good  education  and  marked  ability,  and  soon  began  to  take 
an  active  part  in  the  rehgious  meetings  of  the  neighbourhood. 
No  man  could  have  been  more  beloved.  He  was  regarded], 
in  Mr.  Arnold's  family,  very  much  in  the  light  of  a  son  and 
a  brother ;  and  the  days  which  he  spent  there  were  long  re- 
membered for  their  cheerfulness  and  joy.  It  was  said  in  the 
neighbourhood  that  he  had  gone  to  Mr.  Arnold's  to  learn  how 
to  preach ;  but  his  divinity  was  learned  in  the  school  of 
heaven,  and  not  of  books  or  men.  He  was  one  of  the  most 
eloquent  and  successful  young  men  of  that  age,  but  his  career 
was  short.  He  joined  the  conference  in  1800,  and  died  in 
New-York  in  1810, aged  thirty-three  years;  greatly  beloved, 
and  in  the  midst  of  a  brilliant  career. 

GREAT  REVIVAL. 

Meantime  a  great  revival,  such  as  was  never  before  known  in 
that  region,  broke  out  and  spread  in  every  direction.  Old 
professors  were  stirred  up  and  exercised  in  a  very  unusual 
way;  the  wicked  were  struck  down  in  their  folly;  the 
penitent  were  converted ;  and  the  most  extraordinary  scenes 
were  witnessed  wherever  the  people  of  God  met  to  pray.  In 
the  meetings  many  were  prostrated  to  the  floor,  and  appa- 
rently insensible  for  hours  together ;  and  when  they  recovered 
their  strength,  would  be  in  the  most  joyful  and  exultant 
states.  It  seemed  as  if  an  influence  went  out  from  these 
pious  and  enthusiastic  worshippers,  which  seized  on  all  who 
came  within  their  reach,  and  brought  them  to  the  foot  of  the 
cross. 

The  meetings  were  often  boisterous,  confused,  and  disorder- 
ly, and  brought  the  Methodists  into  great  disrepute  among 
the  less  emotional  denominations;  but  they  swept  every- 


SMITH  ARNOLD. 


327- 


thing  before  them.  At  a  quarterly  meeting  in  Mr.  Keiley's 
barn,  not  far  from  Mr.  Ai'nold's  dwelling,  the  Rev.  John 
M'Claskey  preached  with  wonderful  power  and  eflfect,  and 
there  were  so  many  extravagances  that  Mr.  Arnold  began  to 
ponder  whether  such  things  could  result  from  a  genuine 
work  of  God.  These  doubts  were  expressed  to  some  friends, 
and  were  soon  whispered  among  the  worshippers. 

On  the  following  day,  a  number  of  those  who  had  been 
in  attendance  at  the  meeting  came  over  to  his  house  to  talk 
the  subject  over.  Among  them  was  a  Brother  Fairbanks, 
who  proposed,  after  talking  awhile,  that  they  should  all 
kneel  down  and  pray,  and  in  their  prayers  submit  the  mat- 
ter to  God.  The  proposal  was  readily  agreed  to,  and  the 
result  was  such  a  scene  as  has  seldom  been  witnessed.  A 
melting,  subduing  influence  seemed  to  rest  on  all  who  were 
present  from  the  first,  and  the  Httle  family  group  was  soon 
enlarged  to  a  crowd ;  and  prayers  were  continued  through  the 
whole  night  and  the  following  day.  Mr.  Arnold  was  among 
the  first  to  become  a  prey  to  the  extravagances  that  he  had 
condemned.  He  was  swept  away  by  the  enthusiasm  of  the 
moment,  and  used  to  say,  in  speaking  of  that  remarkable 
meeting,  that  it  was  throughout,  "  Ask  and  receive — ask  and 
receive." 

He  prayed  that  every  one  who  entered  the  door  might 
feel  the  converting  or  sanctifying  power  of  God,  and  his  prayer 
seemed  to  be  literally  answered.  An  old  brother,  by  the 
name  of  Allen,  came  to  reprove  them  for  such  gross  delusions. 
Mr.  Arnoll  met  him  at  the  door,  and  exclaimed,  "Glory! 
glory  !  glory  !  God  is  love  !"  His  words  fell  on  the  aston- 
ished visitor  like  a  bolt  from  heaven,  and  he  was  instantly 
smitten  to  the  floor,  where  he  continued  earnestly  to  cry  for 
the  experience  of  that  love,  till  he  found  it.  Not  long  after 
Mr.  Arnold's  aged  father  came  into  the  room  for  much  the 
same  purpose.  As  he  looked  around,  and  saw  the  "dead 
and  the  wounded,"  he  said,  "  Smith,  it  seems  to  me  you  are 
carrying  matters  to  a  great  excess :  God  is  a  God  of  order, 


328 


THE  HEROES  OF  METHODISM. 


and  not  of  confusion ;  and  I  fear  you  will  bring  a  reproach 
on  bis  cause."  Smith  caught  the  old  gentleman  in  his  arms, 
exclaiming,  "My  father!  God  is  love!"  The  old  man's 
strength  departed  from  him  in  an  instant.  He  lay  on  the 
floor  for  a  long  time  in  silence ;  then  his  countenance  began 
to  shine  with  the  love  that  beamed  from  within  ;  and  when 
he  recovered  strength  to  speak,  his  first  words  were,  "My 
soul  doth  magnify  the  Lord!"  when  a  shout  arose  that  al- 
most started  the  logs  from  their  foundation. 

A  young  girl  that  had  been  severely  whipped  by  her 
parents  for  attending  the  Methodist  meetings,  stole  away 
from  her  home  and  joined  the  enthusiastic  worshippers,  and 
was  soon  rejoicing  in  unmeasured  strains  of  joy.  Mr.  Keith, 
who  was  at  work  in  the  field,  came  and  looked  in,  but  see- 
ing the  confusion,  went  back  to  his  work ;  but  he  could  not 
remain.  After  a  short  time  he  returned,  and  said  he  was  so 
unhappy  that  he  must  ask  their  prayers.  Mr.  Arnold  replied  : 
"  Glory  to  God  !  Jesus  can  make  you  happy  !"  At  these 
words  he  lost  his  strength,  and  lay  for  three  houi-s  apparently 
senseless,  and  many  thought  that  he  was  actually  dead ; 
his  extremities  were  cold,  and  his  pulse  could  scarcely  be 
felt.  There  w^as  a  feeling  of  alarm  in  regard  to  him ;  but 
Mr.  Arnold  suggested  that  he  had  been  called  to  preach,  and 
was  resisting  the  call.  "Pray,"  said  he,  "that  he  may 
yield  !"  Prayer  was  ofi"ered  accordingly ;  and  soon  after  a 
placid  smile  w\is  observed  on  his  countenance,  and  then  a  soft 
voice  was  heard,  saying,  "  Lord,  I  will  do  anything  !  Lord, 
accept  me,  and  I  will  serve  thee !  Glory !  glory !  glory  I 
The  Lord  is  good  !    The  Lord  is  love  I" 

The  quarterly  meeting  on  Delaware  circuit,  though  forty 
miles  distant,  was  attended  by  Mr.  Arnold  and  several 
members  of  his  class,  all  on  fire  with  love  and  zeal ;  and  it 
was  an  occasion  for  such  an  outpouring  of  the  Spirit  as  had 
not  before  been  seen.  From  this  place  the  work  spread  to 
the  surrounding  circuits,  and  the  whole  country  was  in  a 
blaze. 


SMITH  ARNOLD. 


THE  ITINERANT  FIELD. 

Mr.  Arnold  was  now  actively  engaged  in  holding  meetings 
wherever  the  way  seemed  to  be  opened,  and  in  planting  and 
nurturing  new  societies.  He  had  long  been  licensed  as  a 
local  preacher,  and  in  1Y99  was  called  into  the  itinerant 
field.  His  old  friend,  Jonathan  Newman,  had  said  to  him,  a 
long  time  before,  "  Brother  Arnold,  I  tell  you  as  a  friend, 
that  you  will  have  to  attack  the  devil's  kingdom  more  exten- 
sively." He  now  sent  for  him  from  the  Mohawk  circuit, 
where  the  "kingdom  "  was  strong,  and  the  means  of  "  attack  " 
weak,  to  aid  him  in  his  labours. 

He  joined  Mr.  Newman  at  the  quarterly  meeting  at  West- 
ern, held  at  the  house  of  Jacob  Wiggins,  where  he  found  a 
large  congregation  gathered,  and  was  called  on  to  preach. 
Under  this  sermon  Peggy,  afterward  the  wife  of  the  world- 
renowned  Lorenzo  Dow,  was  converted.  In  the  following 
year  (1800)  he  was  admitted  to  membership  in  the  Phila- 
delphia Conference,  then  embracing  the  whole  or  the  greater 
part  of  the  state  of  New- York. 

HOW  MR.  ARNOLD  FAILED  OF  A  WHIPPING. 

Sometimes  Mr.  Arnold  had  misgivings  about  his  fitness  for 
the  work,  and  strong  temptations  to  leave  it.  On  one  of  these 
occasions  he  felt  so  unequal  to  the  task  before  him,  that  he 
concluded  he  would  go  to  his  appointment,  and,  instead  of 
preaching,  give  an  exhortation,  dismiss  the  people,  and  retire 
forever  from  the  duties  to  which  he  was  so  little  adapted ; 
but  during  the  exhortation  he  was  so  inspired,  and  so  filled 
with  the  spirit  of  his  mission,  that  he  spoke  with  unusual 
fervour  and  freedom,  and  several  of  the  congregation  wei-e 
convinced  of  sin.  One  young  married  woman,  by  the  name 
of  Spalding,  was  among  them,  and  went  home  sad  and  weep- 
ing.   Her  husband  inquired  what  was  the  matter.  "Mat- 


330 


THE  HEROES  OF  METHODISM. 


ter!"  said  she,  ''matter  enouglil  we  are  all  going  to  hell!" 
Spalding  wanted  to  know  how  she  found  it  out.  "  Why,'* 
said  she,  "  the  Bible  and  Mr.  Arnold  say  so."  "  Do  they  ?" 
quoth  Spalding,  in  return.  "  Well,  the  Bible  must  take  care 
of  itself ;  but  Mr.  Arnold  has  made  a  fool  of  you;  and  when 
he  comes  again  I  will  give  him  a  horse-whipping."  Before 
he  came  again,  however,  Mr.  Keith  preached,  and  both  were 
converted.  "  So,"  says  Mr.  Arnold,  "  I  escaped  the  whip- 
ping ;  and  when  I  came  around  to  my  appointment,  he  came 
to  me  with  tears  in  his  eyes,  and  confessed  the  wrong  that 
he  had  intended." 

SICKNESS. 

Saratoga  circuit  was  Mr.  Arnold's  first  appointment  after 
connecting  himself  with  the  conference ;  and  the  year  was 
rendered  memorable  to  him  on  account  of  a  severe  attack  of 
typhus  fever.  He  was  at  Wilton,  near  the  head  waters  of 
the  Hudson,  when  he  began  to  feel  the  approaches  of  the 
disease,  and,  having  no  acquaintances  there,  and  no  physi- 
cian living  within  twenty  miles,  he  threw  himself  into  the 
saddle  and  undertook  to  gain  the  nearest  settlement.  The 
effort  was  beyond  his  strength  ;  and  when  at  last  he  arrived 
at  the  house  of  a  brother  Olmstead,  his  strength  was  gone, 
and  he  had  to  be  lifted  from  his  horse  and  carried  to  the 
house.  From  the  house  of  brother  Olmstead  he  v/as  removed 
to  that  of  brother  Edmunds,  where  he  had  such  attention  as 
the  circumstances  afforded. 

He  grew  worse,  and  other  medical  advice  was  deemed 
necessary ;  so  a  messenger  was  despatched  twenty  miles  for 
Dr.  Jewett,  celebrated  alike  for  his  skill  and  his  infidelity. 
When  he  came  into  the  house  he  inquired,  "  What  does  this 
Methodist  priest  want  of  me  ?  If  his  work  is  not  done,  he 
will  certainly  recover ;  if  it  is  done,  all  the  physicians  in  the 
world  can't  save  him."  He  was  then  conducted  to  the  room 
of  the  sick  man ;  and  after  looking  at  his  tongue,  feeling  his 


SMITH  ARNOLD, 


381 


pulse,  and  asking  the  needful  questions,  he  took  his  hand, 
and,  looking  him  in  the  face,  said,  "  Brother  Arnold,  '  this 
sickness  is  not  unto  death,  but  for  the  glory  of  God.'  "  His 
words  proved  true  in  one  respect,  at  least ;  the  sickness  was 
"  not  unto  death."  His  extreme  danger,  however,  rendered 
it  proper  for  Mrs.  Arnold  to  be  sent  for,  though  the  distance 
was  ninety  miles.  The  messenger  took  Mr.  Arnold's  horse, 
and  made  the  journey  in  a  day.  When  she  arrived,  she 
found  her  husband  slowly  improving,  and  when  he  had 
gained  sufficient  strength,  they  started  for  their  distant  home. 

ALBANY  CIRCUIT. 

In  the  year  1801  Mr.  Arnold  was  sent  to  Albany  circuit, 
then  an  immense  territory,  taking  its  name  from  the  state 
capital,  which  was  within  its  boundaries.  His  associate  was 
Barzillai  Willy.  They  were  both  young,  and  of  moderate 
abilities  as  preachers ;  but  they  could  sing,  and  pray,  and 
exhort,  from  one  end  of  the  week  to  the  other ;  and  their 
zeal,  and  earnest,  laborious  efforts,  were  crowned  with  won- 
derful success.  Some  idea  may  be  formed  of  the  labours  of 
a  Methodist  preacher  in  that  day,  by  the  fact  that  this  cir- 
cuit, which  had  to  be  traversed  in  four  weeks,  had  no  less 
than  forty-three  appointments  or  preaching  places,  to  visit 
which  required  four  hundred  miles  of  travel.  But  during 
the  whole  year  this  immense  territory  was  one  great  revival, 
and  they  left  it  with  twice  the  number  of  members  that  they 
found  in  it.  Mr.  Arnold  was  eighty  or  a  hundred  miles 
distant  from  his  family ;  and  so  pressing  were  the  demands 
of  his  work,  that  he  visited  them  only  once  during  the  year. 

We  have  not  space  to  follow  this  servant  of  God  through 
his  various  fields  of  labour.  Mr.  Arnold  continued  in  the 
active  service,  doing  battle  for  God  and  truth,  until  1821, 
when,  in  consequence  of  age  and  increasing  infirmities,  he 
took  a  superannuated  relation.  He  lived  within  the  bounds 
of  the  New- York  Conference  until  1838,  when  he  removed 

15 


332 


THE  HEROES  OF  METHODISM. 


to  Rochester,  N.  Y.,  and  the  next  year  finished  his  course 
with  joy. 

Brother  Arnold  was  very  useful  to  those  who  were  about 
entering  the  ministry.  Over  William  Keith,  as  we  have  al- 
ready seen,  he  threw  the  mantle  of  his  protection,  and  was 
his  friend  when  his  relatives  had  all  forsaken  him. 

ARNOLD  AND  TOBIAS  SPICER. 

Rev.  Tobias  Spicer,  whose  locks  are  now  bleached  with 
time,  who  has  been  long  and  favourably  known  as  an  able 
minister  of  the  New  Testament,  remembers  the  veteran 
Arnold  with  gratitude.  He  was  his  father,  friend,  and 
counsellor,  just  when  he  needed  them.  He  not  only  person- 
ally to  me  expressed  his  obligation  to  the  departed  hero,  but 
has  recorded  it  in  his  own  autobiography.  Though  about 
half  a  century  has  passed  away,  Mr.  Arnold's  kindness  is  not 
forgotten.  Mr.  Spicer  lived  in  Chatham  when  Mr.  Arnold 
was  on  the  circuit. 

"  Feeling  it  my  duty  to  preach,  I  concluded  to  open  my 
mind  freely  to  the  preacher.  Brother  Arnold  was  an  aged 
man,  and  prudent.  He  gave  his  views  of  a  call  to  the  minis- 
try. He  said  he  did  not  think  every  good  man  was  called  to 
preach.  He  thought  a  person  should  be  deeply  impressed  in 
his  own  mind  with  a  sense  of  duty ;  and  he  considered  the 
voice  of  the  Church  as  the  providential  voice  of  God  in  this 
matter.  If  God  had  called  me  to  this  work,  he  would  some- 
how open  the  door  for  me.  This  aged  brother  gave  me  what  I 
most  needed — suitable  instruction  in  this  matter.  He  neither 
hurried  me  forward  nor  thrust  me  back.  He  advised  me  to 
exercise  ray  gift  in  public  by  exhortation  and  prayer,  to  read 
my  Bible  very  carefully,  and  by  all  possible  means  to  improve 
my  mind,  and  cultivate  my  heart  in  deep  and  ardent  piety. 
He  said  a  preacher  who  had  not  a  strong  religious  feeling, 
would  not  make  out  much  among  the  Methodists.  I  endeav- 
oured  to  profit  by  the  advice  and  instruction  given  me  by 


SMITH  ARNOLD. 


883 


this  aged  minister."  This  testimony  honours  both  Mr.  Ar- 
nold and  Mr.  Spicer.  It  does  justice  to  the  former,  and  it 
shows  the  gratitude  of  the  latter.  How  forcible  are  right 
words !    "  He  that  walketh  with  wise  men  shall  be  wise." 

The  venerable  historian  of  Methodism,  Dr.  Bangs,  thus 
speaks  of  him :  "  Brother  Arnold  was  a  man  of  great  sim- 
plicity of  manners,  a  Methodist  preacher  of  the  old  stamp  ; 
plain  and  pointed  in  his  appeals  to  the  conscience,  though 
sometimes  eccentric  in  some  of  his  movements  and  phrases. 
His  talents  as  a  preacher  were  respectable,  and  he  generally 
commanded  the  confidence  and  affection  of  the  people  among 
whom  he  laboured;  and  when  his  death  was  announced, 
none  doubted  but  that  he  had  exchanged  this  for  a  better 
world." — Bangs' s  History  of  Methodism^  vol.  iv,  p.  330. 

HIS  END,  OR  THE  CLOSING  SCENE. 

He  sakl  to  a  preacher  of  another  denomination,  a  little 
while  before  he  died,  with  his  usual  quaintness, "  I  had  hoped 
to  live  until  I  could  have  preached  the  funeral  sermon  of 
Old  Bigotry."  Brother  Arnold  is  dead,  but  Old  Bigotry 
lives ;  lives  to  separate  brethren,  to  sow  discord  among  them ; 
lives  to  curse  the  Church  ;  lives  to  dishonour  God  ;  lives  to 
ruin  men.  And  I  am  afraid  it  will  be  a  long  time  before  any 
of  us  will  preach  his  funeral  sermon.  It  is  time  he  was  dead, 
and  buried  so  deep  that  he  can  never  have  a  resurrection. 

Mr.  Arnold  was  always  particularly  annoyed  on  the  subject 
of  slow  singing.  One  day,  a  short  time  before  his  death, 
having  desired  some  friends  to  sing,  they  commenced  singing, 

"  On  Jordan's  stormy  banks  I  stand, 
And  cast  a  wishful  eye,"  &c. 

The  music  moved  quite  too  slow  to  suit  his  ardent  desires. 
He  was  very  uneasy,  and  his  dutiful  daughter,  Hannah,  asked 
him  if  the  singing  hurt  him.  He  replied,  "  No,  but  I  don't 
want  to  go  dragging  to  heaven  in  that  slow  way."    He  in- 


334 


THE  HEROES  OF  METHODISM. 


quired  of  the  doctor,  a  short  time  before  he  died,  "Can  you 
tell  me  how  long  it  will  be  before  the  old  tabernacle  will 
come  down  ?"  The  doctor  shook  his  head.  "  Well,"  said  he, 
"  it  is  all  the  same — all  the  same  ;  the  Lord  will  give  grace 
and  glory."  On  being  asked  if  he  would  have  a  drink  of 
water, he  replied,  "No;  I  expect  soon  to  drink  the  pure  water 
of  life  in  my  Father's  kingdom."  It  was  not  long  before  he 
was  permitted  to  drink  of  those  pure  perennial  fountains  in 
the  neighbourhood  of  the  throne  of  God.  On  the  16th  of 
March,  1839,  aged  73,  the  old  soldier  was  discharged  from 
his  warfare,  and  went  up  to  join  the  multitude  with  their 
redemption  robes,  and  palms  in  their  hands. 

•*  Servant  of  God,  well  done  I 
Thy  glorious  warfare's  past, 
The  battle's  fought,  the  race  is  won, 
And  thou  art  saved  at  last.'' 

To  Samuel  G.  Arnold,  Esq.,  the  son  of  our  venerated 
father,  I  am  under  lasting  obligation  for  the  greater  part 
of  the  above  narrative. 


EEY.  SAMUEL  HAMILTON. 


THE  REY.  SAMUEL  HAMILTON. 


Mr.  Hamilton  was  for  many  years  an  efficient  member  of 
the  Ohio  and  Missouri  Conferences.  He  was  a  presiding 
elder  for  a  number  of  years  in  both  of  them.  At  the  age  of 
twenty,  he  was  converted  at  a  camp-meeting  in  Ohio,  arid 
made  the  woods  vocal  with  his  songs  of  joy  and  shouts  of 
triumph.  In  1814  he  joined  the  travelling  connexion,  and 
laboured  like  a  man  of  God,  with  great  zeal  and  success,  to 
advance  the  interests  of  the  Redeemer's  kingdom,  till  pre- 
vented by  disease. 

Mr.  Hamilton  understood  what  Solomon  meant  when  he 
said,  "  A  man  that  hath  friends  must  show  himself  friend- 
ly." He  showed  himself  friendly;  therefore,  he  had  many 
friends. 

As  a  preacher  he  was  wise,  shrewd,  sarcastic,  eloquent ; 
irony  he  used  to  great  advantage  when  attacking  error. 
Finally,  in  thS"  midst  of  his  loved  employ,  Mr.  Hamilton 
was  prostrated  by  successive  strokes  of  paralysis,  which  com- 
pelled him  to  retire  from  the  field,  and  for  two  years  he 
lingered,  suffering  patiently  the  will  of  heaven,  till  the  Mas- 
ter said,  "  It's  enough," 

"Enter  into  my  joy, 

And  sit  down  on  my  throne." 


338  THE  HEROES  OF  METHODISM. 


HAMILTON  AND  THE  INFIDEL. 

To  Bishop  Ames  I  am  indebted  for  the  following  awful 
incident : 

Rev.  Samuel  Hamilton  was  travelling,  and  fell  in  com- 
pany with  a  man  by  the  name  of  M.  They  were  both 
on  horseback.  Mr.  Hamilton  introduced  the  subject  of 
pei*sonal  religion,  but  it  was  casting  precious  pearls  before 
one  who  undervalued  them.  Mr  M.  was  an  infidel ;  he  had 
been  engaged  in  the  "  Whisky  Rebellion"  in  Pennsylvania. 
He  neither  feared  God  nor  regarded  man.  He  denied  the 
Son  of  God,  ridiculed  the  great  doctrine  of  the  atonement, 
undervalued  heaven,  and  made  light  of  the  torments  of  the 
damned.  Mr.  Hamilton  was  horror-struck,  and  thought  he 
could  not  be  in  earnest.  To  test  the  matter  he  inquired, 
"  What  will  you  take  to  forego  forever  your  interest  in  the 
atonement  of  the,  Son  of  God  ?"  Mr.  Hamilton  had  just 
taken  his  watch  from  his  pocket  to  see  the  time.  Mr.  M. 
saw  it  and  said,  "  If  you  will  give  me  that  watch,  I  promise 
forever  to  forego  my  interest  in  the  atonement,  never  to  ask 
a  favour  of  Jesus  Christ."  Mr.  Hamilton  reached  him  the 
watch,  supposing  he  would  hand  it  back  to  him.  He  took 
it,  and  put  it  into  his  pocket.  The  time  came  when  they 
must  separate.  They  came  to  a  place  where  one  turned  to 
the  right  and  the  other  to  the  left.  They  parted  to  meet  no 
more  till  the  dead,  small  and  great,  stand  before  God.  At 
the  conference  which  was  held  in  Mount  Carmel,  when  the 
question  was  asked,  Is  there  anything  against  Brother  Ham- 
ilton ?  a  brother  arose  and  said  there  was.  He  had  heard 
that  he  had  purchased  a  man's  interest  in  the  atonement  of 
the  Son  of  God.    Mr.  Hamilton  explained  that  he  did  not 


SAMUEL  HAMILTON. 


33d 


think  the  man  in  earnest,  but  merely  wished  to  test  him, 
and  supposed  that  when  he  reached  him  the  watch  he  would 
return  it  immediately.  Upon  this  explanation  his  char- 
acter passed. 

Years  rolled  on.  M.  was  lost  sight  of,  though  the  circum- 
stance had  made  an  indelible  impression.  When  Bishop 
Ames  removed  to  St.  Louis  in  1838,  he  heard  of  M.  and  of 
hift  melancholy  end.  After  M.  moved  to  St.  Louis,  he -joined 
an  infidel  club,  where  there  were  a  number  of  bold,  blas- 
phemous men,  who  ridiculed  sacred  things,  derided  the 
Saviour,  made  light  of  his  dying  agonies,  and  of  the  tor- 
ments of  the  damned.  He  was  a  kind  of  ring-leader  to  this 
infidel  band ;  often  he  would  show  the  watch  and  describe 
the  transaction.  But  he  had  no  peace  after  he  received  it. 
It  haunted  him  by  day  and  by  night ;  he  would  pull  out  the 
watch  and  look  at  it,  and  then  put  it  in  his  pocket. 

At  last  he  was  taken  dangerously  ill,  and  his  wife  sent 
for  Parson  G.  He  came;  the  sick  man  treated  him  very 
cavalierly,  and  wished  for  none  of  his  advice  or  prayers. 
He  grew  worse ;  his  infidel  companions  visited  him,  and 
encouraged  him  to  die  like  a  man,  to  show  himself  a  hero 
to  the  last. 

One  who  saw  him  near  the  last,  said  that  his  death-bed 
was  the  most  horrible ;  the  dying  man  uttered  such  screams, 
such  bold  blasphemies,  such  horrid  oaths  as  he  never  listened 
to  before.  They  could  be  heard  at  a  great  distance,  making 
the  blood  chill  in  the  veins  of  those  who  heard  them.  His 
dying  bed  was  a  bed  of  thorns,  his  last  hour  an  hour  of  de- 
spair, showing  the  crimson  guilt  of  one  who  "trampled  under 
foot  the  Son  of  God,  and  counted  the  blood  of  the  covenant 
an  unholy  thing.'* 

HAMILTON'S  GRAVITY  OVERCOME. 

Ludicrous  things  sometimes  occur  in  congregations,  some 
of  which  are  "enough  to  make  a  minister  laugh,"  for, 

15* 


340  THE  HEROES  OF  METHODISM. 


with  all  their  gravity,  they  are  men  of  "  like  passions"  with 
others.  Mr.  Hamilton  had  a  keen  perception  of  the  ludi- 
crous, as  will  be  seen  from  the  amusing  anecdote  which  fol- 
lows, related  by  Rev.  J.  B.  Finley,  in  his  "Sketches  of 
Western  Methodism."  Mr.  Finley  received  it  from  the  lips 
of  Mr.  Hamilton.  It  occurred  at  a  meeting  on  the  waters  of 
the  Little  Kanawha.    At  a  certain  appointment  there  lived 

a  Colonel  ,  whose  family  were  members  of  the  Church, 

and  who  had  a  respect  for  religion,  though  he  was  too  fond 
of  the  world  to  make  a  profession  thereof.  He  was  regular 
in  his  attendance,  and  on  the  occasion  to  which  we  have  allud- 
ed he  was  in  his  seat,  attended  by  a  neighbour  of  his,  who 
was  respectable  enough,  with  the  exception  that  at  times  he 
would  lose  his  balance  under  the  influence  of  intoxicating 
liquor.  He  had  taken  on  this  occasion  just  enough  to  make 
him  loquacious  without  being  boisterous.  Hamilton,  after 
singing  and  prayer,  arose  and  gave  out  for  his  text  the  first 
Psalm.  "  Blessed  is  the  man  that  walketh  not  in  the  coun- 
sel of  the  ungodly,  nor  standeth  in  the  way  of  sinners,  nor 
sitteth  in  the  seat  of  the  scorner,"  &c.  He  entered  upon 
the  discussion  of  his  subject  by  showing  what  we  understand 
by  walking  in  the  counsel  of  the  ungodly,  and  as  he  gave  a 
description  of  the  ungodly,  and  their  various  wicked  ways 
and  bad  examples,  he  saw  the  friend  of  the  colonel  punch 
him  in  the  ribs  with  his  elbow,  and  overheard  him  saying, 
"  Colonel,  he  means  yon."  "  Be  still,"  said  the  colonel ; 
"you  will  disturb  the  congregation."  It  was  as  much  as 
the  preacher  could  do  to  refrain  from  smiling ;  but  he  went 
on  with  his  subject,  and  as  he  described  another  character- 
istic of  the  ungodly,  in  "standing  in  the  way  of  sinners,"  the 
force  of  the  application  was  too  strong  to  be  resisted,  and  the 
colonel's  friend,  drawing  up  closely,  elbowed  him  again,  say- 
ing, "He  certainly  means  you,  colonel."  "Be  quiet,  the 
preacher  will  see  you,"  whispered  the  annoyed  man,  while  he 
removed  as  far  from  him  as  he  could  to  the  other  end  of  the 
seat.    The  preacher  had  arrived  at  the  third  characteristic 


SAMUEL  HAMILTON. 


341 


of  the  ungodly,  and  as  he,  in  earnest  strains,  described  the 
scorner's  seat,  the  colonel's  friend  turned  and  nodded  his 
head  at  him  most  significantly,  adding  in  an  under  tone, 
"  It's  you,  it's  you,  colonel ;  you  know  it's  you."  By  this 
time  most  of  the  congregation  were  aware  of  what  was  go- 
ing on,  and  cast  significant  smiles  and  glances  at  each  other. 
Those  who  understood  the  features  of  the  speaker,  could 
easily  discover  that  he  was  moving  along  under  a  heavy 
pressure  of  feeling,  and  unless  something  should  occur  to 
break  the  excitement,  he  must  yield  to  the  impulses  of  his 
nature.  Just  at  that  crisis  a  little  black  dog  ran  up  the 
aisle,  and  stopping  directly  in  front  of  the  pulpit,  looked  up 
into  the  preacher's  face,  and  commenced  barking.  The  scene 
was  ludicrous  enough,  but  how  was  it  heightened  when  the 
colonel's,  friend  rose  from  his  seat,  and  deliberately  march- 
ing up  the  aisle,  seized  the  dog  by  his  neck  and  back,  and 
began  to  shake  him,  exclaiming,  "  Tree  the  preacher,  will 
you  ?  tree  the  preacher,  will  you  ?"  Thus  he  kept  shaking 
the  dog  and  repeating,  "  Tree  the  preacher,  will  you  ?"  till 
he  arrived  at  the  door,  when,  amid  the  yells  of  the  dog,  and 
the  general  tittering  of  the  audience,  he  threw  him  as  far  as 
he  could  into  the  yard.  This  was  too  much  for  Hamilton,  and 
he  sat  down  in  the  pulpit,  his  gravity  completely  overcome. 
It  was  impossible  for  him  to  resume  his  subject,  or  even  to 
dismiss  the  congregation.  There  was  no  more  preaching 
that  day ;  and  ever  after,  when  the  colonel  went  to  church, 
he  was  careful  that  his  friend  was  not  by  his  side. 


EEV.  ARCHIBALD  I'lLROY. 


THE  REV.  ARCHIBALD  M'llROY. 


Archibald  M'Ilroy,  of  the  Pittsburgh  Conference,  was  a 
man  of  eccentric  habits  and  manner,  and,  as  is  frequent  in 
such  cases,  of  sprightly  and  original  genius.  He  was  born 
in  Ireland,  in  the  latter  part  of  the  eighteenth  centuiy,  but 
emigrated  to  America  when  quite  young,  and  settled  in 
Washington  county,  Pennsylvania. 

Before  leaving  his  native  land,  he  was  associated  with  the 
"  Hibernian  Society,"  made  up  of  the  youth  of  the  country, 
the  chief  business  of  which  was  said  to  be  to  study  profanity, 
and  opposition  to  the  British  crown  and  government;  the 
former  of  which  was  winked  at  by  the  Papal  Church,  in 
which  he  was  raised,  and  the  latter  was  encouraged  as  a  rare 
virtue  by  his  spiritual  instructors. 

In  the  department  of  profanity^  he  excelled  in  the  inven- 
tion and  coining  of  oaths,  which  he  used  to  pour  forth  in 
volleys,  not  only  in  common  conversation,  but  especially  in 
the  disputes,  fisticuflFs,  and  broils  into  which  his  association 
frequently  fell,  and  for  which  they  were  frequently  imprisoned 
and  otherwise  punished. 

When  about  nineteen  years  of  age — probably  about  the 
year  1809  or  1810,  and  not  long  after  his  migration  to 
America — he  was  awakened  to  a  sense  of  his  sins,  and,  after 
a  severe  struggle  with  himself  and  the  enemy  of  all  good, 
was  soundly  converted  to  God.  As  a  matter  of  course,  he 
suffered  severe  persecution  from  his  former  associates  and 
papal  friends;  but  being  made  a  new  creature  in  Christ 
Jesus,  through  the  instrumentality  of  the  Methodists,  he 
resolved  to  make  them  his  people,  and  their  God  his  God. 


346 


THE  HEROES  OF  METHODISM. 


The  soundness  of  his  conversion  was  proved  by  the  patience 
with  which  he  bore  persecutions  in  his  early  Christian  course, 
as  well  as  by  his  uniform  piety  and  indefatigable  toils  in  the 
itinerancy  in  after  life. 

In  1812,  at  the  first  naeeting  of  the  Ohio  Conference,  he 
was  received  on  trial  in  the  travelling  connexion,  in  which 
he  continued  incessant  in  his  labours  until  1826,  when  he 
died  in  great  peace,  and  went  home  to  his  eternal  reward. 
For  this  account  of  his  life,  and  most  of  the  incidents  which 
follow,  I  am  indebted  to  the  Rev.  Alfred  Brunson. 


M'lLROY  AS  A  PREACHER. 

As  a  preacher,  he  was  a  "  son  of  thunder."  His  originality, 
his  deep  research,  and  his  pathos  and  zeal,  rendered  his  pul- 
pit performances  interesting  to  some ;  but  his  strong  and 
vivid  wit,  and  unequalled  sarcasm,  together  with  his  scorch- 
ing descriptions  of  hell,  and  the  future  misery  of  the  finally 
impenitent,  rendered  his  sermons  and  exhortations,  and  even 
his  prayers,  awfully  terrific.  It  was  no  uncommon  occur- 
rence for  his  hearers,  or  at  least  some  of  them,  to  rush  from 
the  house  in  utter  consternation.  His  originality,  which  was 
cultivated  in  the  Hibernian  school  to  the  use  of  the  most  ter- 
rific figures  and  imagery,  was  now,  as  if  unavoidable,  pressed 
into  his  service  in  thundering  "  the  terrors  of  the  Lord." 

It  is  true,  he  sometimes  was  placid  and  mild,  and  could 
and  did  argue  pointedly,  and  to  good  eftect,  on  the  disputed 
doctrines  of  the  day ;  and  he  would,  on  suitable  occasions, 
administer  consolations  to  tlie  afflicted,  or  to  the  mourner  in 


AUCHIBALD  M'lLROY. 


34t 


Zioii ;  but  his  forie  lay  in  reproving  sin  and  alarming  the 
sinner. 

To  give  specimens  of  his  manner  would  be  impossible,  un- 
less we  could  print  his  person,  his  gesticulations,  and  his  Irish 
brogue.  He  seldom  smiled  himself,  though  his  audience 
would  frequently  be  in  a  roar  of  laughter ;  and  the  transition 
from  laughter  to  tears,  and  even  terror,  was  sometimes  so 
sudden  and  great  in  his  hearers  as  to  produce  profuse  perspi- 
ration. 

M'lLROY  ON  THE  GENERAL  RULES. 

In  reading  the  General  Rules  of  Discipline,  he  made  applica- 
tions as  he  went  on ;  and  sometimes  of  an  eccentric  or 
ludicrous  character.  At  one  time,  when  he  came  to  "  visit- 
ing them  that  are  sick,  or  in  prison,"  he  paused,  and  said : 
"  Do  you  visit  the  sick  ?  Yes,  I  suppose  you  do ;  but  how 
do  you  do  it  ?  Why,  when  you  hear  that  a  brother  or  sister 
is  sick,  you  '11  wait  till  Sunday,  because  you  can't  spend  the 
time  on  a  week-day ;  and  then  you  '11  get  up  your  horse,  and 
ride  away  to  visit  the  sick,  instead  of  going  to  meeting,  and 
you  '11  prevent  those  from  going  to  meeting  that  would  have 
gone  if  you  had  done  so,  or  if  you  had  staid  at  home ;  and 
you'll  sit  down  by  the  sick,  and  ask  them  a  few  questions 
about  their  complaint,  and  what  doctor  they  have,  and  say 
he 's  a  very  good  doctor,  and  you  hope  the  sick  will  get  well. 
But  you  do  n't  say  a  word  about  religion,  nor  sing  or  pray 
with  the  afflicted  ;  but  turn  oflf  and  talk  about  your  neigh- 
bours, and  the  crops,  the  weather,  and  the  times.  And  there 
you  '11  stay  till  eating  time  comes  on,  and  then  you  '11  see 
every  bare-legged  boy  and  every  puppy  on  the  place  running 
down  the  chickens ;  and  when  they  are  cooked,  you  '11  feast 
yourselves  as  if  nothing  was  the  matter.  And  this  is  the  way 
you  visit  the  sick ;  but  this  is  not  right.  You  should  go 
where  you  're  most  needed,  and  talk  of  Christ  and  his  reli- 
gion.   You  should  pray  with  them,  and  then  go  home  about 


348 


THE  HEROES  OF  METHODISM. 


your  business ;  and  this  you  should  do  on  a  week  day,  if 
possible,  and  not  take  the  Lord's  time  for  it,  if  your  own  time 
will  answer  as  well." 

M'lLROY  AND  THE  DRUNKARD. 

I  once  heard  him  talk  to  the  drunkard  after  this  sort: 
"  You  '11  lie  at  the  swill-tub  like  the  brute ;  you  '11  wallow  in 
the  mire  like  the  swine,  and  the  crows  might  peck  your  eyes 
out."  He  would  sometimes  trace  the  drunkard  through  a 
miserable  life  to  an  untimely  grave,  and  a  premature  hell, 
where  "the  devil  will  pour  the  blue  blazes  of  damnation  down 
your  throats  with  an  iron  scoop-shovel,  when  you  '11  diink 
fire  enough  to  satisfy  you." 

M'lLROY  AND  THE  DUTCHMAN. 

But  his  most  distinguished  discourse,  and  the  one  for  which 
he  obtained  the  greatest  notoriety,  was  applied  to  one  Mr.  N., 
in  Ohio.  Mr.  N.  was  very  wealthy,  and  had  raised  a  large 
and  respectable  family,  who,  at  the  time  of  which  we  are 
speaking,  were  mostly  married,  and  settled  in  the  country 
about  him.  The  old  man  had  a  pious  and  good  wife,  to 
whose  virtues,  probably,  the  respectability  of  his  family  was 
mostly  to  be  attributed. 

Mr.  N.  often  tried  to  be  religious,  but  as  often  failed  ;  and 
in  his  wicked  fits  several  times  drove  his  wife  from  home, 
when  she  would  live  with  her  children.  After  several  such 
cases  of  ill-treatment,  she  had  an  estate  fall  to  her,  which  Mr. 
N.  wanted  her  to  sell,  and  let  him  have  the  money ;  but 
she  knowing  that  he  had  no  special  need  of  it,  and  not  know- 
ing but  he  might  turn  her  oft'  some  time,  concluded  that  it 
was  safest  for  herself  to  keep  it  in  her  own  name,  so  that,  if 
necessary,  she  could  have  a  home  to  go  to.  This,  of  course, 
excited  the  ire  of  Mr.  N.  to  a  high  degree,  and  he  drove  lier 
away  to  live  with  her  children. 


ARCHIBALD  M'ILROY. 


349 


Just  at  this  time  Archy,  as  he  was  familiarly  called,  came 
Tound  his  circuit  for  the  first  time ;  and,  from  the  discourse, 
people  thought  he  must  have  heard  of  the  circumstance  of 
Mr.  N.  and  his  wife ;  but  Archy  told  me  that  he  knew  nothing 
of  it  till  afterward.  He  said  he  made  it  a  rule  to  preach  one 
rough  sermon  at  each  appointment  on  his  circuit,  in  the 
coui-se  of  the  year;  and  it  so  happened  that  the  good  Spirit 
led  him  to  this  kind  of  discourse  on  this  occasion. 

Mr.  N.,  hearing  that  a  new  preacher  was  on  the  circuit, 
turned  out,  with  several  hundred  others,  to  hear  him. 
What  the  text  was  I  do  not  know,  nor  was  it  of  any  conse- 
quence, for  hundreds  of  texts  would  answer  his  purpose  very 
weir.  He  went  into  a  general  view  of  the  wicked;  their 
present  course  and  future  punishment.  He  would  take  up 
and  characterize  one  sinner  after  another,  show  their  conduct, 
and  picture,  in  the  most  vivid  colours  his  fruitful  imagination 
could  invent,  the  miserable  state  of  such  sinners  in  the  future 
world.  And  after  exhausting  the  long  and  dark  list  of  sin- 
ners of  diflferent  grades  and  kinds,  as  if  by  some  inspiring 
influence,  he  stretched  himself  up  in  the  pulpit,  and,  raising 
his  hand,  said :  "  And  as  for  that  man,  that  '11  abuse  his  wife, 
so  that  she  can't  live  with  him,  but  will  have  to  go  and  live 
with  her  children,  he  '11  die  and  be  damned ;  and  the  devil 
will  take  him  in  the  tongs  of  damnation,  and  lay  him  on 
the  anvil  of  God's  justice,  and  pound  him  with  the  sledge 
of  the  ten  commandments !  Then  he  '11  hitch  him  up  by  the 
throat  to  the  rag-wheel  of  damnation,  and  hoist  him  up 
among  the  clouds  of  smoke,  and  let  him  down  among  the 
old  Dutch  scythes  and  sickles,  and  cut  him  all  to  pieces. 
The  young  devils  will  then  take  him  by  the  hair  of  the  head, 
and  drag  him  over  the  pavements  of  hell  till  they  pound 
him  all  to  a  jelly.  They  '11  then  cut  out  his  tongue,  cut  him 
in  quarters,  and  hang  him  up  to  dry." 

Mr.  N.,  who  was  a  German,  stood  it  till  the  service  was 
closed,  when  he  rushed  out  of  the  house  with  the  crowd,  who 
knew  how  well  the  discourse  applied,  and  exclaimed  :  "  Mine 


350 


THE  HEROES  OF  METHODISM. 


Got,  mine  Got,  where  did  that  man  get  all  that  Scripture? 
I  wonder  if  he  was  a  soldier  or  a  sailor — what  ship  did  bring 
over  that  man?"  And  turning  to  his  son,  Mr.  said, 
"  Jake,  Jake,  go  fetch  Missy  home ;  the  devil  will  have  me  I" 
Jake  did  so;  and  Mr.  N.  lived  peaceably  with  her  till  she 
was  called  home  to  her  final  rest  in  heaven. 

M'lLPwOY'S  SERMON  ON  THE  SWINE. 

Mr.  M'llroy  had  one  sermon  he  sometimes  preached,  from  the 
text  about  the  swine  into  which  the  devils  entered,  when  they 
ran  violently  down  the  mountain  into  the  sea.  He  pictured 
the  wicked  as  being  like  the  swine  with  the  devil  in  them, 
running  violently  down  the  hill  of  time  into  a  sea  of  fire  and 
brimstone. 

To  illustrate  this  idea  he  related  an  anecdote:  "I  was 
once  in  Dublin  when  three  hundred  hogs  were  driven 
into  town  about  sunset,  and  were  butchered  that  night, 
and  ready  for  market  the  next  morning  by  sunrise. 
Where  I  lodged  in  my  hotel,  I  could  look  out  of  my  win- 
dow, and  see  and  hear  the  whole  movement.  The  fire  was 
burning,  the  smoke  was  rising,  the  water  was  boiling,  the 
butchers  were  blaspheming,  and  the  hogs  were  squealing. 
I  never,"  said  he,  "  saw  anything  in  my  life  that  so  fairly 
and  fully  represents  the  damned  in  hell.  There  the  fire  will 
be  burning,  the  smoke  will  be  rising,  the  lake  will  be  boil- 
ing, the  devils  will  be  blaspheming,  and  the  wicked  will  be 
howling,  and  that  to  all  eternity." 

This  terrific  mode  of  preaching  was  not  uniform  with  him  ; 
it  was  occasional,  and  when  he  thought  the  circumstances 
of  the  case,  or  the  character  of  some  of  his  hearers,  required 
it.  He  was  often  in  a  milder  mood,  and  would  explain  the 
truths  of  the  Gospel  with  the  most  vivid  imagery,  or  argue 
and  defend  its  truths  against  popular  errors,  with  more  than 
ordinary  ability ;  but  when  he  did  preach  terror,  it  was  of 
the  most  scathing  character,  and  would  raise  the  hair  on  a 


ARCHIBALD  M'lLROY. 


man's  head,  and  especially  if  the  remarks  applied  to  him. 
But  withal  he  was  useful.  Many,  of  course,  preferred  his 
milder  mood  of  preaching,  and  some  would  flee  from  the 
house;  but  many  were  awakened  and'  converted  under  his 
ministry. 

He  travelled  in  the  wilds  of  the  western  wilderness  four- 
teen years ;  saw  much  improvement  in  the  settlement  and 
society  of  the  country ;  saw  the  Church  emerging  from  in- 
fancy to  maturity  of  strength ;  and  finally  died  in  the  bosom 
of  his  family,  in  great  peace  and  holy  triumph. 

M'lLROY  AND  THE  DANCING-MASTER. 

At  a  quarterly  meeting  on  Carlisle  Circuit,  in  1821,  the 
congregation  was  so  large  that  they  were  obliged  to  go  to 
the  woods.  They  took  some  benches  from  the  church,  on 
which  the  people  could  sit,  and  the  preacher  stood  in  a  wag- 
on; and  while  William  Swayze  was  preaching,  a  dancing- 
master,  with  some  of  his  disciples,  went  into  the  church  and 
got  up  a  dance.  The  master  afterward  said  to  the  others, 
"  Let  us  go  out  and  get  converted."  The  dancers  had  been 
in  the  congregation  but  a  few  minutes  when  the  power  of 
God  fell  on  the  people,  as  on  the  day  of  Pentecost,  and 
many  fell  to  the  ground,  among  whom  was  the  dancing- 
master.  The  mourners  were  immediately  invited  to  the 
altar  made  of  the  seats,  when  Brother  M'llroy  stood  up  on 
a  bench  and  called  out,  "  Hands  to,  here  ;  hands  to ;  here's 
a  bull  in  the  net ;  here's  a  bull  in  the  net ;  here's  the  man 
that  taught  the  people  to  serve  the  devil  by  rule.  I  pray 
God  to  break  his  fiddle,  convert  his  soul,  and  tune  his  heart 
to  sing  his  praise." 

How  it  fared  with  the  fiddle  I  do  not  know,  only  that  it 
was  laid  aside ;  but  the  rest  of  the  prayer  was  answered ; 
the  man's  soul  was  converted,  and  his  heart  tuned  to  sing 
the  praise  of  the  Lord ;  and  as  a  matter  of  course,  the  danc- 
ing-school was  discontinued. 


852  THE  HEROES  OF  METHODISM. 


M'lLROY  AND  THE  CALVINISTIC  MINISTER. 

A  Calvinistic  minister  in  Ohio,  in  the  presence  of  Rev.  J.  B. 
Finley,  made  an  attack  upon  Mr.  M'llroy.  The  Calvinist  also 
was  a  native  of  the  Emerald  Isle,  and  so  Irishman  met  Irish- 
man. The  point  of  debate  was  the  "  secret  and  revealed  will 
of  God."  MTlroy  contended  that  if  God  had  a  secret  will, 
from  the  very  necessity  of  the  case  we  must  be  ignorant  of 
it ;  for  if  we  know  it,  it  would  be  no  longer  secret.  He  also 
denied  that  the  Bible  taught  such  a  doctrine. 

The  Calvinist  replied :  "  Your  sophistry  must  give  way  to 
matter  of  fact."  The  matter  of  fact  to  which  he  referred 
was  the  case  of  Abraham.  God  had  commanded  him  to 
offer  up  his  son  Isaac,  and  the  revealed  will  of  God  was 
evidently  that  Isaac  should  be  slain  as  a  sacrifice,  but  the 
secret  will  of  God  was  of  an  entirely  opposite  character. 
"Now,"  said  the  Calvinist,  with  an  air  of  pride  and  con- 
scious triumph  over  his  antagonist,  "your  system  of  error 
falls  to  the  ground." 

The  Methodist  minister  rejoined :  "  I  am  sorry  for  your 
sake,  though  not  for  the  truth's  sake,  that  your  matter  of 
fact  turns  out  to  be  matter  of  fiction.  Had  you  paid  half  as 
much  attention  to  your  Bible  as  you  have  to  the  Assembly's 
Catechism,  you  would  not  have  assumed  that  to  be  matter 
of  fact,  which  has  in  reality  no  existence.  You  say  that 
only  a  part  of  the  divine  procedure  in  the  case  of  Abraham 
was  revealed,  and  that  related  to  the  peremptory  command 
to  slay  his  son.  But  what  are  the  facts  ?  God  commanded 
Abraham  to  slay  his  son.  While  in  the  act  of  obeying,  an- 
other command  is  given  entirely  reversing  the  former. 
Neither  of  these  purposes  of  God  were  secret,  inasmuch  as 
they  were  both  revealed." — Finleyh  Autobiography. 


WILLIAM  DA¥SON. 


WILLIAM  DAWSON. 


The  following  sketch  of  this  remarkable  man  is  abridged 
from  a  funeral  sermon  preached  just  after  Mr.  Dawson's 
death,  by  the  Rev.  Dr.  Newton,  and  originally  published  in 
the  "  Leeds  Times  :" 

Mr.  Dawson  was  born  at  Garforth,  near  Leeds,  in  the  year 
IVZS.  His  parents  were  religiously  disposed,  and  conscien- 
tiously regular  in  their  attendance  on  the  Established  Church. 
His  father,  Luke  Dawson,  occupied  a  small  farm  and  tenant- 
ed a  colliery  under  the  late  Sir  Thomas  Gascoigne.  His  son 
William  was  the  eldest,  to  whom  he  gave  a  good  English 
education. 

It  was  not  till  Mr.  Dawson  was  seventeen  years  of  age, 
that  he  was  brought  under  the  deep  impressions  of  divine 
truth,  and  became  more  thoughtful  and  seriously  concerned 
for  his  soul's  salvation.  This  serious  turn  of  his  mind  pro- 
ceeded from  the  impression  made  upon  it  by  the  poweiful 
and  evangelical  ministry  of  the  Rev.  Thomas  Dykes,  a  minis- 
of  the  Established  Church,  now  residing  in  Hull,  whom 
he  always  afterward  considered  as  his  spiritual  father.  He 
profited  much  also  from  the  ministrations  of  that  popular 
preacher,  the  Rev.  J.  Graham,  of  St.  Saviourgate,  York. 
About  this  time  he  was  urged  by  many  of  his  clerical  friends 
to  become  a  clergyman  of  the  Church  of  England ;  they 
pressed  the  subject  upon  him  repeatedly,  but  his  mind  ap- 
peared in  a  state  of  equilibrium.  His  diary,  however,  showed 
how  much  he  reasoned  upon  the  subject;  for  at  this  time  he 
had  commenced  a  diary,  which  consisted  for  the  most  part 
of  statements  of  his  own  thinkings  and  actings.    But  Prov- 

16 


356 


THE  HEROES  OF  METHODISM. 


ideiice  had  a  wider  field  of  usefulness  in  resen'e  for  him 
than  if  he  had  been  employed  in  the  pulpits  of  the  establish- 
ment. 

About  this  time,  it  appears,  he  went  to  hear  the  Methodist 
ministers.  Mr.  Pawson,  that  man  of  vigorous  intellect  and 
zealous  exertion,  one  of  the  first  preachers  among  the  body 
in  his  day,  went  into  that  neighborhood.  Mr.  Dawson  went 
to  hear  him,  and  was  profited ;  but  now  he  clearly  began  to 
see  that  he  must  either  desist  from  going  to  listen  to  the 
Methodist  preachers,  or  incur  the  displeasure  of  his  clerical 
friends.  He  now  became  more  acquainted  with  that  body ; 
and  in  the  year  1800  (he  states  the  month  and  day  in  his 
diary)  he  wrote  a  letter  to  the  Rev.  J.  Graham,  in  which  he 
gave  a  decided  answer  to  the  question  respecting  his  going 
into  the  Church,  and  of  his  intention  to  join  the  people 
called  Methodists.  Although  William  Dawson  had  de- 
livered several  lectures,  without  texts,  in  Garforth,  and  sev- 
eral of  the  surrounding  villages,  in  which  he  told  them  that  a 
change  was  necessary,  yet  it  was  clear,  as  he  afterward 
shows,  that  he  himself  had  not  experienced  a  new  birth  unto 
righteousness,  and  was  a  stranger  to  a  clear  evidence  of  his 
acceptance  with  God. 

lie  was  deeply  impressed  with  divine  things,  and  was  ex- 
ceedingly uniform  and  regular  in  his  conduct,  yet  he  pos- 
sessed not  the  evidence  of  sins  forgiven.  He  joined  the 
Methodists  in  the  village  of  Scholes,  and  there  he  learned 
from  Mr.  Pawson  the  paramount  importance  and  necessity 
of  a  knowledge  of  salvation  by  the  remission  of  sins ;  and 
saw  that  it  was  his  privilege  to  have  it.  He  earnestly  began 
to  pray,  and  wrestle,  and  agonize ;  and  in  answer  to  his  im- 
portunities and  prayers,  God,  for  Christ's  sake,  was  mani- 
fested, and  William  Dawson  was  filled  with  life,  and  light, 
and  love.  He  could  "  read  his  title  clear  to  mansions  in  the 
skies  ;"  and  from  that  time  to  the  day  of  death  he  never  lost 
what  he  then  received,  but  often  spoke  of  it  afterward  with 
feelings  of  the  most  inexpressible  gratitude  and  delight. 


WILLIAM  DAWSON. 


8S7 


But  he  did  not  remain  satisfied  with  what  he  had  already- 
attained.  It  was  his  privilege  to  rise,  and  he  saw  it ;  he  saw 
it  to  be  the  peculiar  privilege  of  every  child  of  God.  He 
sought  after,  therefore,  and  enjoyed  that  "perfect  love  which 
casteth  out  fear ;"  and  this  he  enjoyed  for  many  years.  In 
the  following  year,  1802,  he  began  to  oflBciate  as  a  local 
preacher.  John  Barker  was  then  superintendent  of  the  cir- 
cuit; and  it  was  unanimously  agreed,  at  the  regular  quar- 
terly meeting  of  local  preachers,  that  his  name  should  be 
placed  upon  their  list ;  when  the  venerable  father,  Mr.  Bar- 
ker, made  the  observation,  "  that  it  was  his  firm  conviction 
that  Mr.  Dawson  ought  to  travel  as  a  regular  preacher." 
There  was,  however,  a  tie  which  most  probably  prevented 
him  from  doing  so.  His  father  was  no  more ;  he  was  the 
eldest  son  of  the  family,  and  family  claims  seemed  to  urge 
him  from  every  side  to  refrain.  The  entire  management  of 
the  family  devolved  upon  him ;  they  looked  up  to  him  for 
regulation  and  support. 

He  saw  that,  if  he  gave  himself  to  the  ministry,  he  prob- 
ably would  be  removed  to  some  distant  part  of  the  country, 
where  he  should  not  have  the  opportunity  of  looking  after 
them.  But  Providence  had  reserved  for  him  a  sphere  of  use- 
fulness ;  and  while  a  local  preacher,  there  was  scarcely  a  pul- 
pit in  the  Methodist  society  throughout  the  country  that 
William  Dawson  did  not  occupy.  How  much  good  was 
efiiected  eternity  alone  will  unfold.  As  a  local  preacher  he 
had  laboured  until  about  six  years  before  his  death,  when 
he  gave  himself  entirely  to  the  society  ;  and  after  that  time 
there  was  not  a  preacher  in  the  connexion  engaged  in  a 
more  extended  sphere  of  usefulness,  in  preaching  mission- 
ary and  Sunday-school  sermons,  and  delivering  speeches  on 
missionary  and  other  occasions.  It  was  not  in  Leeds  only 
that  his  preaching  attracted  such  large  congregations ;  but 
the  pious,  and  good,  and  excellent  William  Dawson  was 
sought  after,  and  listened  to,  by  persons  of  every  rank, 
and  of  the  most  refined  judgment  and  exquisite  taste,  in 


358  THE  HEROES  OF  METHODISM. 


every  place.  William  Dawson  was  a  thorough  Methodist, 
and  in  his  views  of  the  doctrines,  rules,  disciphne,  and 
Church  order  of  that  body,  was  firm  and  unshaken  to  the 
end ;  and  there  were  times  when  his  fixedness  was  put  to 
the  test. 

Though  WiUiam  Dawson  was  a  firm  Methodist,  yet  he 
was  no  bigot ;  he  possessed  a  truly  catholic  spirit,  and  never 
reviled  those  of  another  denomination.  lie  did  not  think 
that  all  the  good  in  the  world  was  confined  to  the  Wesleyan 
Methodists.  Wherever  he  met  with  the  image  of  his  Mas- 
ter, whether  in  Churchman  or  Dissenter,  to  them  he  would 
stretch  out  the  right  hand  of  fellowship,  and  with  all  his 
heart  wish  them  success  and  prosperity  in  the  name  of  the 
Lord. 

William  Dawson  was  a  great  man.  He  possessed  extra- 
ordinary powers  of  mind ;  and  this  was  shown  in  various 
ways.  He  had  a  reason  for  everything  that  he  advanced. 
The  first  time  that  Dr.  Adam  Clarke  saw  him  was  at  Ches- 
ter. The  doctor,  Mr.  Dawson,  and  Mr.  Newton  had  been 
preaching  anniversary  sermons  there ;  and  Mr.  Dawson  and 
the  doctor  had  to  go  to  Livei-pool,  after  these  services  were 
over,  to  preach  on  a  similar  occasion.  It  was  about  eighteen 
miles  distant,  and  they  went  in  a  postchaise ;  and  Dr. 
Clarke  w^as  quite  delighted  with  him,  and  said  to  Mr.  New- 
ton, the  following  morning,  "  Your  friend  Mr.  Dawson  and 
myself  were  talking  all  the  way  to  Liverpool  yesterday 
evening,  and  what  an  astonishing  mind  he  has  got !  He 
assigned  reasons  all  the  way  for  everything  he  had  done." 
Yes,  he  was  a  reasoning  man  ;  and  had  his  mind  been  well 
disciplined  in  the  art  of  logic  when  he  was  young,  he  would 
have  been  one  of  the  first  logicians  of  the  day.  He  always 
thought  for  himself ;  and  though  he  knew  well  how  to  take 
a  hint  from  an  old  Puritan  divine,  yet  he  was  no  servile 
imitator.  His  originality  was  so  great  that  he  led  every  one 
to  admire  him.  It  is  seldom  that  strong  reasoning  powers 
are  combined  with  great  fertility  of  imagination  ;  but  in 


WILLIAM  DAWSON. 


359 


him  they  were  happily  united.  lie  used  strong  provincial- 
isms sometimes  in  his  mode  of  expressing  himself ;  and  any 
person  might  easily  discover  that  he  was  a  Yorkshireman. 
But  what  of  that?  Truth  and  thought  are  the  same, 
however  communicated ;  and  no  matter  with  what  accent  it 
is  delivered,  so  long  as  it  answers  the  end.  But,  notwith- 
standing his  provincialisms,  who  was  there  that  could  not  see 
flashes  of  real  genius  sometimes  blazing  forth  into  a  con- 
stellation ?  and  even  the  exuberance  of  his  eloquence  was 
sanctified  and  happily  brought  to  bear  upon  the  truths  which 
lie  intended  to  inculcate.  He  was  an  eloquent  man  ;  but  his 
was  not  a  stultified  or  strutting  eloquence,  to  please  the  ear ; 
it  was  the  eloquence  of  nature,  of  thought,  of  sentiment,  and 
of  feeling ;  the  only  eloquence  which  can  reach  the  heart. 
William  Dawson  was  a  powerful  preacher,  and  many  people 
would  say,  they  knew  he  was  a  powerful  man,  because  he 
had  a  powerful  voice  and  frame.  Ay,  but  William  Dawson 
possessed  another  power,  the  power  of  the  Holy  Ghost ;  and, 
therefore,  his  word  came  with  much  assurance,  and  was  ex- 
ceedingly powerful  to  the  pulling  down  of 'the  strongholds 
of  Satan. 

His  taste  for  music  was  very  refined  and  correct.  As  a 
poet,  he  ranked  far  above  mediocrity  ;  and  had  he  cultivated 
his  talent  in  this  respect,  he  would  have  stood  high  in  the 
estimation  of  the  public. 

W^illiam  Dawson  was  not  a  mere  moral  lecturer ;  not  one  of 
that  class  of  persons  who  give  long  disquisitions  on  the 
beauty  of  virtue,  on  the  excellence  of  shedding  tears  of  re- 
pentance, (however  excellent  they  may  be,)  and  the  loveli- 
ness of  moral  perfection  ;  nor  did  he  simply  dwell  on  what 
are  the  prevailing  topics  of  most  of  the  infidel  lecturers  of 
the  day,  the  loftiness  and  power  of  the  Supreme  Being ; 
wherever  he  was  he  introduced  Christ;  he  knew  full  well 
that  a  Christless  sermon  would  do  nothing  toward  allaying 
the  fears,  or  exciting  the  hopes,  of  a  poor  penitent  sinner; 
and,  therefore,  he  laboured  with  all  his  might  to  point  poor 


360  THE  HEROES  OF  METHODISM. 


perishing  raen  to  their  only  Friend.  And  how  often  he  used 
these  Hnes : 

♦'See  all  your  sins  on  Jesus  laid  : 
The  Lamb  of  God  was  slain ; 
His  soul  was  once  an  offering  made 
For  every  soul  of  man.^' 

And, 

"  Behold  the  Saviour  of  mankind 
Nail'd  to  the  shameful  tree ; 
How  vast  the  love  that  him  inclined 
To  bleed  and  die  for  me." 

Such  was  his  energetic  mode  of  preaching :  powerful,  be- 
cause experimental,  practical,  and  accompanied  with  fervent 
prayer.    Mr.  Dawson  died  suddenly,  July  3d,  1841. 

On  the  platform  he  had  the  entire  control  of  the  passions 
of  his  auditory ;  and  his  figurative  addresses  will  never  be 
forgotten.  0,  to  hear  his  "  Harvest  Home,"  or  his  "  Re- 
form," or  his  "Railroad,"  or  his  "Telescope"  speech!  If 
lie  had  gone  on  the  stage  instead  of  into  the  pulpit,  he  would 
have  proved  himself  a  greater  comic  actor  than  ever  Dow- 
ton  was.  His  powers  of  drollery,  however,  were  sanctified. 
We  have  heard  his  "  Telescope"  speech,  and  seen  him  make 
that  optical  instrument  of  his  resolution,  through  which  he 
saw  whatever  was  in  the  heatheu  world,  and,  in  anticipation, 
what  would  be  when  idols  shall  be  utterly  abolished.  We 
have  heard  his  "Railroad"  speech;  and  when  he  got  the 
Gospel  car  fairly  moving,  and  Sabbath-school  children,  and 
teachers,  and  missionary  collectors,  and  subscribers,  and 
missionaries,  and  Bible  society  supporters,  and  how  many 
more  we  do  not  remember,  all  pulling  at  the  rope,  and  then 
forming  a  trumpet  of  his  hand,  made  all  drawing  the  cars 
to  send  forth  their  praises  and  hosannas  to  the  Son  of  David, 
there  were  effects  on  an  immense  and  eager  audience  we 
never  saw  before,  nor  expect  to  see  again.  Not  a  man,  wo- 
man or  child,  could  resist  him  ;  and  there  was  so  much 
Scripture  in  his  representations  and  all  said  in  honor  of 


WILLIAM  DAWSON. 


301 


Christ,  that  the  speaker,  with  the  sacred  inagic  wand,  was 
hid  in  the  glory  of  his  divine  Redeemer.  His  travels  and 
labours  were  almost  as  extensive  as  those  of  the  Kev. 
Robert  Newton ;  and  few  men  have  done  more  in  support 
of  the  various  institutions  of  Methodism. 


DAWSON'S  "RAILWAY  SPEECH." 

Mr.  Dawson,  at  the  annual  meeting  of  the  York  Wesley  an 
Missionary  Society,  gave  the  following  allegory  on  j-ailways, 
in  the  course  of  his  speech  : — "There  was  now  a  great  mania 
for  railways,  and  the  Church  of  God  was  determined  to  have 
a  railway  round  the  world.  They  had  got  a  survey  of  it, 
and  God  himself  was  preparing  the  way."  He  said — "  Every 
valley  shall  be  exalted,  and  every  mountain  and  hill  shall 
be  made  low ;  and  the  crooked  shall  be  made  straight,  and 
the  rough  places  plain."  This  is  just  the  way  they  make 
railways.  And  "  there  shall  be  made  in  the  desert  a  highway 
for  our  God."  The  Bible  Society  were  laying  down  the  rails, 
and  the  missionary  societies  were  placing  thereon  the  chariot 
of  the  Gospel,  in  which  was  seated  the  great  Cai)tain  of  our 
salvation.  The  chariot  is  drawn,  not  by  steam,  but  by  hu- 
man instrumentality.  The  rope  was  twisted  by  faith,  hope, 
and  love.  In  front  of  the  chariot  w^ere  the  heralds  of  salva- 
tion, blowing  the  trumpet  of  the  Gospel — "Ride  on  glori- 
ously, ride  on  gloriously,  O  thou  King  of  saints !"  And  the 
females  should  have  a  pull — it  would  not  dirty  their  hands 
or  soil  their  gloves,  and  they  would  sing  Deborah's  song — 
"  So  shall  thine  enemies  perish,  O  Lord ;  but  let  those  that 


362 


THE  HEROES  OF  METHODISM. 


love  thee  increase  in  strength."  And  the  children  would 
have  a  pull,  and  they  would  sing  in  thrilling  music,  "  Ho- 
sannah  to  the  King  of  David,  blessed  is  he  that  cometh  in 
the  name  of  the  Lord." 

DAWSOX  IX  BRISTOL. 

A  friend  of  mine,  from  England,  too  modest  to  have  his 
name  recorded,  is  kind  enough  to  give  me  the  following  de- 
scription of  Dawson,  and  of  a  Sabbath  he  spent  in  Bnstol : 

The  "  Yorkshire  Farmer,"  as  Dawson  was  familiarly  called, 
was  well  made,  and  every  limb  was  well  proportioned,  though 
his  hands  were  very  large.  He  wore  breeches  of  corduroy, 
or  plain  velvet,  and  thick  soled  jack-boots.  He  entered  the 
church  and  the  pulpit  humming  a  tune,  and  there  was  great 
silence  among  the  people.  In  the  morning  his  text  was, 
"  God  so  loved  the  world,  that  lie  gave  his  only  begotten 
Son,  that  whosoever  believeth  in  him,  should  not  perish,  but 
have  everlasting  life."  It  was  a  masterly  sermon.  His  de- 
scriptive powers  were  very  great.  He  said  Luther  declared 
"this  news  was  worth  carrying  round  the  world."  Mr. 
Dawson  said  "  it  was  worthy  to  be  printed  in  gold  ;  the  news 
was  so  good,  and  so  great  were  the  blessings  connected  with 
it,  that  it  was  worthy  of  being  carried  on  your  knees  from 
one  city  to  another,  all  over  the  globe,  till  the  last  son  of  Adam 
heard  the  joyful  intelligence." 

DAWSOX  CORRECTING  DR.  YOUNG. 

In  the  sermon,  he  adverted  to  a  passage  in  Young's  "  Night 
Thoughts,"  where  the  poet  exclaims : 

"Bound  every  heart,  and  every  bosom  burnl" 

And  where  the  ladder  of  mercy  or  love  is  represented  with  its 

"  Lowest  round  high  planted  in  the  skies." 


WILLIAM  DAWSON. 


863 


Raising  his  voice  to  the  highest  pitch  he  exclaimed,  with 
peculiar  emphasis,  in  a  tone  of  thunder,  "  Nay,  doctor,  nay, 
its  '  lowest  round  high  planted  in  the  skies !'  if  it  were  in 
l^eaven  we  should  be  unable  to  reach  it.  Thank  God  !  its 
lowest  round  is  on  earth,  so  the  poorest  individual  on  the 
earth  may  reach  it,  and  accept  of  salvation !" 

DAWSON  STOPPING  THE  CHOIR. 

After  Mr.  Dawson's  masterly  sermon,  which  was  attended  by 
the  unction  of  the  Holy  One,  he  gave  out  that  excellent 
hymn  by  Charles  Wesley  :  ^ 

0  love  divine,  how  sweet  thou  art ! 
When  shall  I  find  my  willing  heart 
All  taken  up  by  thee  ?"  &c. 

When  the  choir  were  singing  the  third  verse, 

"  God  only  knows  the  love  of  God 

he  stopped — addressing  them  thus  :  "  Stop,  friends !  if  angels, 
the  first  born  sons  of  light,  cannot  understand  the  height, 
the  breadth,  the  depth,  the  length  of  the  love  of  God,  how 
can  we  expect  to  fathom  it  while  here  below  ?"  then  he  repeat- 
ed with  profound  eloquence,  thrilling  his  large  auditory : 

" '  God  only  knows  the  love  of  God.' 
Let  us  sing  it  again,  friends ;  for  we  shall  have  it  to  sing  in 
heaven  : 

*  God  only  knows  the  love  of  God.' " 

DAWSON'S  "COAL-PIT"  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

In  the  afternoon  Mr.  Dawson  preached  a  very  impressive 
sermon  from  a  part  of  the  fortieth  Psalm  :  "  I  waited  patiently 
for  the  Lord ;  and  he  inclined  unto  me  and  heard  my  cry. 
He  brought  me  up  also  out  of  a  horrible  pit,  out  of  the 
miry  clay,  and  set  my  feet  upon  a  rock,  and  established  my 
goings,"  &c. 

He  illustrated  the  pit  by  the  coal-pits.   He  began  by  say- 


364 


THE  HEROES  OF  METHODISM. 


ing,  "  I  know  something  of  coal-pits.  I  have  a  number  of 
them  on  my  farm.  Some  of  them  are  very  deep ;  but  let 
them  be  ever  so  deep,  there  will  always  be  a  light  at  the  top. 
David  was  cast  into  the  pit  that  was  deep,  dark,  dangerous, 
horrible ;  and  as  he  was  in  danger  of  sinking  in  the  mire  ancf 
clay,  he  cried  out  to  the  Lord,  '  IncHne  thine  ear  unto  me, 
and  hear  my  cry !'  David  beheld  the  light  at  the  top,  his 
soul  was  encouraged,  God  inclined  his  ear  to  him,  and  heard 
his  cry,  and  brought  him  up  out  of  the  horrible  pit,  and  set 
his  feet  on  a  rock." 

He  illustrated  his  subject  further  by  saying  that  there  was 
once  a  man  in  his  employ  who  was  a  backslider;  and  the 
power  of  the  Almighty  came  upon  him,  and  he  was  almost 
overwhelmed.  He  cried  out,  "I  shall  be  lost,  I  shall  be  lost, 
I  shall  be  sent  to  hell.".  He  was  in  the  coal-pit.  "  They 
came  up  for  me,"  said  Dawson,  "  to  go  down  and  pray  with 
him.  I  went  down  into  the  pit,  and  he  exclaimed  in  agony, 
'  O  master,  I  shall  be  lost,  I  shall  be  damned.'  I  said  to 
him,  'Well,  Will,  thou  knowest  thou  deservest  to  go  to  hell.' 
He  exclaimed,  '  0,  master,  pray  for  me !'  And  we  prayed 
where  we  were  for  two  hours,  and  he  was  delivered  out  of  the 
pit  while  he  was  in  the  pit.  He  praised  God,  for  his  feet 
were  on  a  rock,  and  a  new  song  was  in  his  mouth.  Like 
all  others  who  are  delivered  from  it,  he  felt  an  interest  in 
the  welfare  of  those  who  were  still  in  danger.  This  is  the 
feeling  of  every  new-born  soul : 

'  Then  will  I  tell  to  sinners  round 
What  a  dear  Saviour  I  have  found/  &c. 

"  He  ran  all  the  way  home,  and  I  close  to  him  ;  and  the 
moment  he  entered  the  house  he  fell  on  his  knees,  and  ex- 
claimed, '  Lord,  sanctify  my  wife !  Lord,  sanctify  my  wife !' 
I  said,  'Stop,  Will,  let  her  he  justified  first."*  He  prayed  for 
her  and  she  prayed  for  herself ;  she  cried  unto  the  Lord,  and 
we  continued  to  pray  till  the  Lord  converted  her  also,  and  he 
heard  her  cry,  and  delivered  her  out  of  the  deep,  dark,  and 


WILLIAM  DAWSON. 


365 


horrible  pit,  and  she  praised  the  Lord  for  delivering  grace  as 
well  as  dying  love." 

DAWSON'S  BOLD  FLIGHTS. 

My  informant  goes  on  to  say  that  Mr.  Dawson  "  preached  the 
third  sermon  to  an  immense  multitude,  from  1  Cor.  xv,  52  : 
'  In  a  moment,  in  the  twinkling  of  an  eye,  at  the  last  trump ; 
for  the  trumpet  shall  sound,  and  the  dead  shall  be  raised  in- 
corruptible, and  we  shall  be  changed.'  It  was  on  the  resur- 
rection, and  was  one  of  the  most  solemn  sermons  I  ever 
heard.  His  audience  were  breathless.  His  application  was 
most  awful,  making  his  hearer  feel  as  if  that  awful  hour  had 
come,  when  they  that  have  done  evil  should  come  forth  to  a 
resurrection  of  damnation.  Toward  the  close,  he  cried  out 
at  the  top  of  his  voice,  '  O,  what  would  the  lost  spirits  in  hell 
give  for  one  hour's  privilege  such  as  you  now  enjoy  ?  I  will 
call  one  up.  In  the  language  of  Dr.  Clarke,  here  is  one 
speaking  to  you  from  hell.  Come  forward,  lost  soul ;  and 
speak  to  this  judgment-bound  congregation.  Make  way, 
make  way,  good  people ;'  he  cried  out  with  a  loud  voice,  at 
the  same  time  extending  his  hands  and  arms.  The  people 
looked  alarmed,  as  if  they  believed  a  lost  soul  from  the 
regions  of  the  damned  was  there ;  they  were  about  parting, 
making  way.  Then  he  questioned  the  spirit  from  the  regions 
of  the  lost :  '  Lost  soul,  ruined  spirit  from  the  abodes  of  de- 
spair, what  would  you  give  for  one  hour's  precious  opportunity 
such  as  these  people  enjoy  V  '  Give  ?  Give  ?  Give  V  cried 
he  at  the  top  of  his  voice,  '  I  would  give  ten  thousand 
worlds,  if  the  liquid  parts  were  liquid  silver  and  the  solid 
parts  solid  gold,  I  would  give  it  all.'  Then  looking  round 
upon  the  people,  he  exclaimed,  *  See  what  a  damned  spirit 
says.*    The  effect  was  overwhelming." 


366  THE  HEROES  OF  METHODISM. 


DAWSON  CORRECTING  DR.  WATTS. 

In  illustrating  his  sermon  on  the  "  pit,"  Dawson  said  that 
Dr.  Watts  had  compared  religion  to  a  "golden  chain,  reaching 
from  men's  hearts  to  the  pearly  gates."  Mr.  Dawson  said, 
"  You  may  think  it  strange  that  I  correct  two  of  the  greatest 
poets  the  same  day,  Dr.  Young  and  Dr.  Watts  ;  but  I  think 
they  are  incorrect  in  these  particulars,  however  correct  they 
may  be  in  other  things.  Xay,  doctor,  nay ;  it  leads  not 
merely  from  the  heart  to  the  pearly  gates,  but  leads  from 
man's  heart  to  the  throne  of  God.  The  links  in  this  golden 
chain  are  made  of  love,  good-will,  benevolence,  meekness, 
patience,  charity.  Brethren,  there  are  no  links  in  it  like 
envy,  jealousy,  pride,  or  self-will.  This  glorious  chain  has 
lifted  up  millions  out  of  the  pit,  and  set  their  feet  on  a  rock, 
and  bound  them  to  the  throne  of  God,  and  as  good  Wesley 
says : 

'  Millions  more  thou  art 
Ready  to  pardon  and  forgive.'  " 

In  his  application  he  came  right  home  to  the  heart.  Said 
he :  "  Sinner,  you  have  nothing  to  fear.  David  was  a  king ; 
you  will  never  be  a  king.  If  it  was  no  disgrace  to  David,  it 
never  can  be  to  you.  This  is  the  only  way,  for  king  or  beg- 
gar, to  cry  out  for  deliverance,  and  you  shall  find 

'  delivering  grace 
In  the  distressing  hour.' " 

DAWSON'S  RETORT  UPON  A  BACHELOR. 

Mr.  Dawson  was  a  bachelor,  though  at  a  late  period  in  life 
he  made  one  or  two  attempts  to  marry,  but  without  success. 
When  others  talked  of  titles,  he  would  pleasantly  style  him- 
self ^''Bachelor  of  Arts." 

"  What,"  said  a  friend,  jocosely  one  day,  "  I  am  told  you 


WILLIAM  DAWSON. 


367 


have  been  disappointed  in  a  love  affair !"  He  instantly  re- 
turned, looking  shrewdly,  but  good-naturedly  in  the  face  of 
the  gentleman  who  had  passed  the  meridian  of  life,  and  who 
had  himself  no  higher  degree  than  bachelor,  "  that,  according 
to  report,  is  only  one  ;  but  I  am  informed  your  disappoint- 
ments have  reached  the  teens.^'' 

This  was  as  unexpected  as  the  other,  for  neither  of  them 
was  aware,  though  nothing  is  more  common,  that  report- 
ers had  been  taking  notes  of  their  respective  cases. 

DAWSON'S  RESPONSE  TO  REV.  ANDREW  FULLER. 

Mr.  Dawson  was  delighted  with  a  masterly  missionary 
sermon  he  heard  the  distinguished  Andrew  Fuller  preach  in 
the  Rev.  Edward  Parson's  church.  After  Mr.  Fuller  had 
elucidated  his  subject,  and  expatiated  on  the  great  good  that 
had  been  effected  abroad  by  Dr.  Carey  and  others,  he  asked, 
in  his  energetic  way,  "Where  will  it  end."  "In  heaven," 
responded  Mr.  Dawson,  in  a  tone  sufficiently  loud  to  be 
lieard,  and  his  face  beaming  with  pleasurable  emotions. 

DAWSON  AND  THE  PEDLER. 

Mr.  Dawson  once  preached  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Leeds, 
on  Daniel  v,  2Y  :  "  Thou  art  weighed  in  the  balance  and 
found  wanting."  A  person  who  travelled  the  country  in  the 
character  of  a  pedler,  and  who  was  exceedingly  partial  to 
him  as  a  preacher,  was  one  of  Mr.  Dawson's  auditors. 

The  person  generally  carried  a  stick  with  him,  which  an- 
swered the  double  purpose  of  a  walking-stick  and  "yard- 
wand,"  and  having  been  employed  pretty  freely  in  the  for- 
mer capacity,  it  w^  worn  down  beyond  the  point  of  justice, 
and  procured  for  him  the  appellation  of  "  short  measure." 
He  stood  before  Mr.  Dawson,  and  being  rather  noisy  in  his 
religious  professions,  as  well  as  ready  with  his  responses,-  he 
manifested  signs  of  approbation,  while  the  -scales  were  being 


368 


THE  HEROES  OF  METHODISM. 


described  and  adjusted,  and  different  classes  of  sinners  were 
placed  in  them,  and  disposed  of  agreeably  to  the  text  of  jus- 
tice, truth  and  mercy — uttering  in  a  somewhat  subdued  tone, 
yet  loud  enough  for  those  around  to  hear,  at  the  close  of 
each  particular  "  light  weight" — "  short  again,"  &c.  After 
taking  up  separate  classes  of  flagrant  transgressors  of  the 
law  of  God,  the  hypocrite,  the  formalist,  <fec.,  Mr.  Dawson 
at  length  came  to  such  persons  as  possessed  the  semblance 
of  much  zeal,  but  who  "  employed  false  weights  and  meas- 
ures." Here,  without  having  adverted  in  his  mind  to  the 
case  of  his  noisy  auditor,  he  perceived  the  muscles  of  his 
face  working,  when  the  report  of  "  short  measure  "  occurred 
to  him.  Resolved,  however,  to  soften  no  previous  expres- 
sion, and  to  proceed  with  an  analysis  and  description  of  the 
character  in  question,  he  placed  the  delinquent  in  his  sin- 
gularly striking  way,  in  the  scale,  when  instead  of  the  usual 
response,  the  man,  stricken  before  him,  took  his  stick,  the 
favourite  measure,  from  under  his  arm,  raised  one  foot  from 
the  floor,  doubled  his  knee,  and  taking  hold  of  the  oflfending 
instrument  by  both  ends,  snapping  it  into  two  halves,  ex- 
claiming, when  dashing  it  to  the  ground,  "Thou  shalt  do  it 
no  more  !" 

Two  things  may  be  learned  from  this  incident  \, 
First.  The  power  of  faithful,  honest,  bold  preaching.  If 
the  world  was  favoured  with  more  of  it,  more  yard-sticks 
would  be  broken,  and  more  light  weights  and  false  scales 
would  be  thrown  away. 

Secondly.  The  power  of  conscience.  How  it  lashed  the 
poor  pedler.  There  is  no  bribing  it  with  money,  no  winning 
it  by  our  smiles,  no  convincing  it  by  our  arguments  to  the 
guilty ;  when  aroused  it  is  like  a  whip  of  scorpions.  Happy 
the  man  that  has  not  conscience  for  an  eaemy. 


WILLIAM  DAWSON. 


369 


DAWSON  AND  THE  CRITIC. 

To  a  person  who  sustained  the  character  of  a  "  snarling 
critic,"  and  who  hazarded  some  remarks  in  Mr.  Dawson's 
presence,  the  latter  said,  "  I  passed  some  geese  on  Friday- 
evening  on  the  way  to  my  class,  when  the  old  gander  stretch- 
ed out  his  neck  and  hissed  at  me :  you  are  just  like  him, 
for  you  do  nothing  but  Am." 

DAWSON  AND  THE  BACKSLIDER. 

Mr.  Dawson  understood  the  blessedness  of  sowing  beside 
all  waters.  He  often  met  a  person  near  Leeds,  who  some 
years  before  had  been  converted  to  God,  had  lived  some- 
time in  the  enjoyment  of  religion,  and  "  then  had  made  ship- 
wreck of  the  faith"  and  "  pierced  himself  through  with  many 
sorrows."  He  would  almost  always  give  him  a  word  of  re 
proof.  At  one  time  he  said,  "  Well,  John,  have  you  joined 
the  regiment  again  ?"  "  No  master,  not  ^et,"  was  the  re- 
ply. After  having  accosted  him  in  this  way  several  times, 
mingling  serious  remarks  with  his  interrogatories,  Mr.  Daw- 
son met  him  full  in  front  one  day,  and  with  great  emphasis, 
fixing  his  eyes  upon  him  like  daggers,  said,  "I  tell  thee, 
John,  thou  art  a  deserter  from  God  and  truth  ;  and  as  such 
thou  wilt  have  to  be  whipped  or  sAo^,"  and  so  left  him. 

This  fastened  on  his  mind,  and  the  dread  of  some  heavy 
personal  affliction,  together  with  that  of  final  misery  haunt- 
ed him  wherever  he  went ;  and  it  was  not  long  after,  that 
Mr.  Dawson  was  overjoyed  with  the  tidings  of  the  poor 
wanderer  reclaimed.  This  certainly  was  being  "  instant  in 
season  and  out  of  season."  How  well  to  take  the  exhortation 
of  the  Apostle  Jude,  "  And  others  save  with  fear,  pulling 
them  out  of  the  fife." 


370 


THE  HEROES  OP  METHODISM. 


DAWSON  AND  THE  GENTLEMAN. 

A  gentleman  who  bad  been  a  Methodist  in  early  life,  asked 
Dawson  to  step  into  his  bouse  and  take  a  glass  of  wine.  He 
no  sooner  sat  down  than  the  gentleman  erected  a  battery.  "  I 
do  not  like  the  aristocracy  of  Methodism."  Mr.  Dawson, 
finding  where  he  was,  replied  "That,  sir,  is  a  subject  which 
I  have  never  studied,"  and  after  several  remarks  inquired, 
"Pray, how  do  you  feel  as  to  personal  piety  ?"  The  gentle- 
man returned,  "I  have  family  prayer."  "In  that  reply,"  said 
Mr.  Dawson  to  Mr.  Everett,  "  I  at  once  saw  the  nakedness 
of  the  land." 

An  appeal  to  personal  piety  was  a  weapon  which  he  often 
wielded  with  amazing  power,  when  argument  failed,  and 
when  he  suspected  the  disease  to  be  in  the  heart,  rather  than 
in  the  system  opposed. 

This  fault-finder  is  a  representative  of  a  class  of  ungrateful 
ones,  who  are  indebted  to  Methodism,  but  having  "  lost  their 
first  love,"  they  are  empty-souled,  the  land  is  naked.  It  is 
not  to  them, 

**  A  land  of  corn,  and  wine,  and  oil, 
Favour'd  with  God's  peculiar  smile, 
With  every  blessing  blest 

but  it  is  barren,  no  fruit  of  holiness  on  their  dead  souls  are 
found,  neither  do  they  bring  forth  the  fruits  of  the  Spirit, 
love,  joy,  peace,  long-suffering,  gentleness,  goodness,  faith, 
meekness,  temperance.  'Tis  true,  it  is  not  the  system  that  is 
defective,  they  are  defective;  they  may  attend  to  family 
prayer,  but  it  is  a  mere  formal  service,  and  this  is  the  extent 
of  their  religion.  Methodism  has  reason  to  complain  of 
many  ungrateful  sons  and  daughters;  "I  have  nourished 
and  brought  up  children,  but  ye  have  rebelled  against  me." 


WILLIAM  DAWSON. 


311 


DAWSON'S  POWER  IN  PREACHING. 

The  following  graphic  description  of  one  of  Mr.  Dawson's 
powerful  sermons,  is  given  by  a  correspondent  of  the  Chris- 
tian Advocate  and  Journal : 

"  Mr.  Dawson  was  delivering  a  discourse  which  was  pe- 
cuHarly  suited  to  his  genius,  and  which  will  be  long  remem- 
bered in  many  towns  and  villages  in  England,  because  of  the 
effect  it  almost  always  produced.  The  sermon  was  generally 
known  to  be  one  of  his  favourite  discourses ;  he  had  preach- 
ed it  many  times  over,  and  it  was  called  by  his  admirers, 
'  Death  on  the  Pale  Horse.'  As  the  reader  will  readily 
suppose,  it  was  founded  upon  Revelation  vi.  7,  8.  I  have 
heard  the  sermon  more  than  once,  and  know  not  that  I  ever 
heard  one  that  was  throughout  of  so  startling  a  character. 
In  bold  and  striking  imagery ;  in  powerful,  thrilling,  irre- 
sistible appeal,  it  scarcely  could  have  a  parallel.  When  Mr. 
Dawson  had  been  happy  in  its  delivery,  I  have  seen  the 
congregation  listen  with  such  absorbing  interest  that  it  seem- 
ed as  though  the  very  breathing  was  suspended,  and  in  the 
pauses  of  the  preacher  a  long  and  deep  inspiration  was  re- 
sorted to  as  a  relief. 

"  This  discourse  Mr.  Dawson  was  defivering  at  the  village 
in  question,  and  was  indulging  in  that  peculiarly  vivid 
imagery  which  was  the  basis  of  his  popularity ;  '  Come  and 
see !'  the  sinner  is  in  the  broad  road  to  ruin ;  every  step 
takes  him  nearer  to  hell  and  farther  from  heaven.  Onward, 
onward  he  is  going ;  death  and  hell  are  after  him  ;  quickly, 
untiringly  they  pursue  him  ;  with  swift  but  noiseless  hoof 
the  pale  horse- and  his  paler  rider  are  tracking  the  godless 
wretch.  See  !  see  !  they  are  getting  nearer  to  him,  they  are 
overtaking  him  !'  At  this  moment,  so  perfect  was  the  still- 
ness of  the  congregation,  that  the  ticking  of  the  clock  could 
be  distinctly  heard  in  every  part  of  the  chapel,  and  upon  this, 
with  a  facility  peculiarly  his  own,  he  promptly  seized,  and 


3Y2  THE  HEROES  OF  METHODISM. 

"without  any  seeming  interruption,  leaning  over  the  pulpit  in 
the  attitude  of  attention,  he  fixed  his  eyes  upon  those  who 
sat  immediately  beneath,  and  in  an  almost  supernatural 
whisper  continued,  '  Hark !  hark !  here  they  come !  that's 
their  untiring  footstep;  hark!  hark!'  and  then,  imitating 
for  a  moment  the  beating  of  the  pendulum,  he  exclaimed  in 
the  highest  pitch  of  his  voice,  '  Save  the  sinner,  save  him. 
See,  the  bony  arm  is  raised,  the  dart  is  poised  !  0  my  God, 
save  him,  save  him  ;  for  if  death  strikes  him  he  falls  into 
hell,  and  as  he  falls  he  shrieks.  Lost !  lost  I  lost !  Time 
lost !  Sabbaths  lost !  means  lost !  heaven  lost !  all  lost  ! 
LOST !  LOST !'  The  effect  was  so  overpowering  that  two  of 
the  congregation  fainted,  and  it  required  all  the  preacher's 
tact  and  self-command  to  ride  through  the  storm  which  his 
own  brilliant  fancy  and  vivid  imagination  had  roused." 

"  Perhaps  somewhat  apocryphal,  yet  generally  accounted 
as  true,  is  an  anecdote  of  his  preaching  at  Pudsey,  a  village 
inhabited  by  woollen-cloth  weavers,  some  five  or  six  miles 
from  Leeds.  As  the  story  prevails,  Mr.  Dawson  was  preach- 
ing from  the  history  of  David  slaying  Gohath,  and  was  in- 
dulging freely  in  the  pictorial  representation  of  which  he  was 
so  perfect  a  master.  Personating  David,  he  had  struck 
dowm  the  boasting  Philistine,  and,  stepping  back  in  the  pul- 
pit, he  cast  his  eye  downward  and  commenced  a  train  of 
irony,  which  had  the  twofold  effect  of  piercing  every  one  that 
exalted  himself  against  the  Lord,  and  of  adding  force  to  the 
graphic  picture  he  had  already  given  of  that  strange  conflict. 
So  powerfully  did  the  speaker  depict  the  conqueror's  emotion, 
and  so  rapidly  did  he  heap  taunt  upon  taunt  on  his  prostrate 
foe,  that  the  congregation  seemed  to  forget  the  actual  state 
of  things  in  the  ideal,  and  waited  in  breathless  suspense  for 
the  catastrophe.  Some  in  the  gallery,  in  the  intensity  of  the 
excitement,  literally  leaned  forward,  as  though  they  expected 
to  see  upon  the  floor  of  the  pulpit  the  giant's  form  with  tho 
stripling's  foot  upon  his  breast;  and  one  person,  carried  away 
by  his  feelings,  and  forgetting  in  his  excitement  the  sanctity 


WILLIAM  DAWSON. 


3V3 


of  the  place,  exclaimed  in  the  broad  dialect  of  the  county, 
M/m'  his  head,  Billy 

DAWSON  SILENCING  A  FAULT-FINDER. 

William  Dawson  silenced  a  fault-finder  whom  he  met  in 
Leeds,  the  day  after  he  had  occupied  one  of  the  pulpits  of 
that  town,  in  the  following  manner : 

Gent.  I  had  the  pleasure  of  hearing  you  preach  yester- 
day. 

Mr.  D.  I  hope  you  not  only  heard  but  profited. 

Gent.  Yes,  I  did ;  but  I  don't  like  those  prayer  meetings 
at  the  close.  They  destroy  all  the  good  previously  re- 
ceived. 

Mr.  D.  You  should  have  united  with  the  people  in  them. 

Gent.  I  went  into  the  gallery,  where  I  hung  over  the 
front,  and  saw  the  whole ;  but  I  could  get  no  good.  I  lost, 
indeed,  all  the  benefit  I  had  received  under  the  sermon. 

Mr.  D.  It  is  easy  to  account  for  that. 

Gent.  How  so? 

Mr.  D.  You  mount  the  top  of  the  house ;  and  on  look- 
ing down  your  neighbour's  chimney  to  see  what  kind  of  a 
jire  he  kept,  you  get  your  eyes  filled  with  smoke.  Had  you 
entered  by  the  door — gone  into  the  room,  and  mingled  with 
the  family  around  the  household  hearth,  you  would  have 
enjoyed  the  benefit  of  the  fire  as  well  as  they.  Sir,  you  have 
got  the  smoke  in  your  eyes. 

Live  with  your  Bible  at  your  right  hand.  Consider 
often,  ponder  deeply,  hide  safely  in  your  memory's  heart  its 
precious  truths ;  they  will  be  your  strength  and  joy. 

DAWSON  ENDING  A  THEOLOGICAL  DISPUTE. 

Doctor  Adam  Clarke  and  the  Rev.  Richard  Watson  diff*ered 
widely  in  their  views  on  the  eternal  Souship  of  Christ.  Mr. 


374 


THE  HEROES  OF  METHODISM. 


Dawson  was  present  one  evening  when  this  subject  was 
discussed.  He  acted  the  part  of  moderator;  and  in  the 
company  where  opposite  opinions  were  espoused,  he  plea- 
santly broke  off  the  debate  by  observing,  in  allusion  to 
the  persons  of  each  :  "Doctor  Clarke  is  tall,  and  Mr.  Watson 
is  still  taller ;  but  if  the  one  were  placed  upon  the  shouldei-s 
of  the  other,  the  doctrine  of  the  Sonship,  such  is  its  profundity, 
will  be  found  deep  enough  to  drown  them  both." 

Then  in  reference  to  the  friends  of  each  he  smiled  and 
said,  adopting  the  proverbial  expression,  "  '  Every  dog  has  its 
day;'  I  have  had  mine,  and  it  has  been  a  very  good  one; 
many  have  patted  me  on  the  back,  and  stroked  my  head  :  in 
the  midst  of  all  I  have  said,  and  that  is  my  language  now,  '  I 
ask  not  life^  but  let  me  love^  " 

DAWSON  ON  THE  FARTHING  CANDLE. 

A  person  who  was  complaining  of  his  poverty,  and  of  his  in- 
ability to  serve  the  cause  of  God,  was  met  in  the  following 
manner  by  Mr.  Dawson  :  "  You  say  you  are  poor,  and  can 
do  nothing.  If  you  have  the  grace  of  God  in  your  heart, 
you  can  do  something.  You  shall  have  the  credit  of  being 
a  farthing  candle.  Well,  a  farthing  candle  can  give  light. 
Take  it  into  a  dark  room,  and  the  inmates  will  be  thankful 
for  it.  What,  a  farthing  candle  can  do  nothing !  Yes,  you 
can  give  light  to  a  beggar.  A  farthing  candle,  and  can  do 
nothing !  Yes,  you  can  set  the  town  on  fire.  Can  do  no- 
thing !  Yes,  you  can  set  the  world  on  fire.  Some  of  the  first 
public  speakers  were  probably  lighted  by  the  feeblest  taper." 
This  surely  was  encouragement  to  do  good  to  the  extent  of 
his  ability.  If  a  person  cannot  be  a  sun,  or  moon,  or  comet, 
or  star,  they  can  be  a  farthing  candle,  and  let  their  light  shine. 
This  is  all  that  Heaven  requires : 

•'See  how  great  a  flame  aspires, 
Kiudled  by  a  spark  of  grace." 


WILLIAM  DAWSON". 


375 


DAWSON  AND  THE  COLT. 

Mr.  Dawson  used  to  relate  the  following  in  his  "Incidents 
of  Travel."  He  was  travelling  in  a  coach  between  Halifax 
and  Leeds,  when  a  gentleman  and  lady  entered  into  conver 
sation,  of  which  this  is  the  substance  : 

Gentleman.  You  are  in  the  habit  of  hearing  popular 
ministers  ? 

Lady.  At  Manchester  I  am  ;  not  at  Halifax. 

Gent.  You  have  no  doubt  heard  Mr.  ? 

Lady.  I  have. 

Gent.  What  is  your  opinion  of  him  ? 
Lady.  His  imagination  is  like  a  young  colt  turned  into 
the  field. 

Gent.  Have  you  heard  Mr.  ? 

Lady.  Never. 

Gent.  Mr.  ,  you,  of  course,  have  often  heard  ? 

Lady.  Yes,  often. 

Gent.  What  is  your  opinion  of  him  ? 

Lady.  I  never  got  a  new  thought  from  him  in  my  life. 

Gent.  Have  you  heard  Dr.  ? 

Lady.  Never. 

Gent.  Have  you  heard  Mr.  ? 

Lady.  Yes. 

Gent.  He  is  an  excellent  preacher? 

Lady.  There  is  too  much  the  appearance  of  manufacture 
about  his  sermons. 

Gent.  Have  you  ever  heard  Mr.  Watson  ? 

Lady.  Yes ;  he  never  exhausts  a  figure.  I  would  go  ten 
miles  to  hear  him  any  day. 

Gent.  There  is  a  great  deal  of  noise  about  Mr.  Irving, 
Have  you  heard  hira  ? 

Lady.  No,  nor  would  I  go  to  hear  him  ;  he  is  for  destroy- 
ing the  whole  language  of  preaching,  and  for  erecting  some- 
thing in  its  place. 


376  THE  HEROES  OF  METHODISM. 


But  the  cream  of  all  this  is  in  the  application  which  Mr. 
Dawson  made  of  it  a  short  time  afterward :  He  was  in  a 
large  party,  in  which  was  one  of  the  gentlemen  referred  to, 
who  sported  with  a  gentleman  of  wilder  imagination  than  his 
own,  and  did  not  fail  to  direct  attention  to  the  playful  fancy 
of  Mr.  Dawson.  The  latter,  in  the  way  of  pleasant  retort, 
related  as  much  of  the  above  dialogue  as  comported  with  the 
occasion,  and  was  more  than  usually  pointed  when  he  turned 
the  lady's  "  colt  loose  into  the  field." 

This  prevented  the  gentleman  from  rambling  at  the 
rate  he  was  proceeding.  The  person  who  was  partner 
with  Mr.  Dawson  in  the  pleasantry,  being  seated  near  him, 
turned  round,  and  said :  "  This  colt  has  trodden  upon  both 
of  us." 

Mr.  Dawson  replied,  "  He  has  not  hurt  you,  I 
hope  ?" 

"  No,"  responded  his  friend ;  "  for,  like  most  young  colts 
turned  out  to  grass,  he  is  without  shoes." 

DAWSON  AND  JOHN  ANGELL  JAMES. 

The  Rev.  John  Angell  James  heard  Mr.  Dawson  preach  at 
a  missionary  meeting  at  Birmingham,  from  "  Be  it  known 
imto  you,  therefore,  men  and  brethren,  that  through  this 
man  is  preached  unto  you  the  forgiveness  of  sins,"  <fec.  After 
service,  Mr.  J ames  observed  that  he  had  heard  some  of  the 
boldest  and  most  original  conceptions  that  he  had  ever  heard 
uttered,  and  clothed  in  language  equally  remarkable  and 
powerful. 

The  gentleman  to  whom  the  observation  was  made,  ac- 
oeeding  to  the  justice  of  the  remark,  inquired,  "  What  would 
he  have  been  had  he  been  favoured  with  an  academical  edu- 
cation in  early  life  ?"  He  answered,  "  He  would  have  been 
spoiled." 


WILLIAM  DAWSON.  37Y 


DAWSON  ON  METHODIST  CLERKS. 

Mr.  Dawson's  sermons  were  delivered  with  such  pathos,  that 
ahnost  always  he  had  very  hearty  responses.  He  was  once 
preaching  in  Sheffield,  in  Carver-street  Chapel.  The  con- 
gregation was  overwhelming,  and  the  feeling  intense.  He 
•xhorted  his  hearers  to  give  their  hearts  to  God ;  and  laying 
his  hand  upon  his  own  heart,  said,  with  a  fine  gush  of  feel- 
ing, lifting  up  his  eyes  to  heaven,  "  Here's  mine  !"  when  a 
voice  from  the  gallery  cried  out,  "  Here's  mine  too,  Billy !" 
Nor  was  this  the  only  audible  token  of  the  effect  of  his 
preaching  ;  such  exclamations  as  "  That's  right !"  "  True !" 
"  Glory  to  God,"  &c.,  being  frequently  repeated  during  the 
service. 

This  led  him  to  say,  "  If  Methodism  does  not  make  men 
into  parsons,  it  certainly  converts  them  into  clerks,  for  they 
are  responding  "  Amen  !  Glory  to  God,"  wherever  we  go ! 

DAWSON  NEXT  TO  NOBODY. 

He  would  often  preach  when  the  audience  were  disappointed 
of  a  preacher,  and  was  always  heard  with  pleasure,  so  that 
he  was  almost  an  exception  to  the  rule — "  A  prophet  is  not 
without  honour,  save  in  his  own  country."  He  never  became 
old,  but  was  ever  fresh  and  new. 

Yet  he  was  sometimes  amused  with  the  remarks  of  per- 
sons on  himself.  "  What,"  said  a  poor  man,  when  disap- 
pointed of  another  preacher,  "  is  it  you  ?"  "  Yes,"  replied 
Dawson,  "  it  is  L"  "  Well,"  returned  the  man,  intending  it 
for  a  welcome  in  his  way,  "you  are  better  than  nobody." 
Mr.  Dawson  pleasantly  observed,  *'  I  know  my  place ;  I  am 
next  to  nobody y  Such  compliments  are  often  passed  by  well- 
meaning  people,  who  do  not  see  their  bearing  or  feel  their 
force.  When  my  first  conference  year  was  expiring,  in 
1834.  a  kind-hearted  sister  expressed  a  desire  for  my  return 


378 


THE  HEROES  OF  METHODISM. 


to  Salisbury  Circuit,  seriously  adding,  "  We  would  a  great 
deal  rather  have  you  come  back,  than  to  run  the  risk  of 
getting  any  worse  one^ 

DAWSON'S  "lock  OF  STRENGTH." 

A  minister  who  heard  Mr.  Dawson  preach,  complimented 
the  sermon,  adding,  "I  wish  I  could  produce  the  sarcre 
eflfect  in  the  pulpit  when  I  am  there."  "  Ah,  sir,"  said  Mrs. 
Reay,  the  lady  of  the  house,  "you  must  move  the  hand  of 
Him  who  moves  the  world,  before  you  witness  these  effects." 

"  Here,"  says  Mr.  Everett,  "  lay  the  '  power'  of  Mr.  Daw- 
son, and  not  barely,  or  even  chiefly,  in  his  manner  of  hand- 
ling a  sutject.  Though  his  remarks  were  often  awfully 
solemn,  eccentrically  original,  or  movingly  natural  and 
thetic,  the  great  secret  of  his  success  lay  in  the  power  which 
God  alone  can  supply."  Power  from  on  high  is  requisite 
in  order  to  success.  "  Not  by  might,  nor  by  power,  but  by 
my  Spirit,  saith  the  Lord  of  Hosts." 

DAWSON  AND  THE  JACK-TAR. 

Mr.  Dawson  considered  adaptation  the  great  secret  of  suc- 
cessful preaching.  Therefore  he  adapted  his  sermons  to  the 
time  and  to  the  circumstances  of  his  audience.  On  a  certain 
occasion  he  went  to  Sunderland  to  preach  to  seamen.  The 
service  was  to  be  held  in  the  evening,  and  during  the  day 
he  went  to  see  a  life-boat  on  the  shore.  Some  of  the  imagery 
of  the  sermon  was  terrific.  He  portrayed  a  storm  at  sea ; 
a  shipwreck ;  the  raging  wind,  the  roaring  waves ;  storm 
howling  to  storm  ;  the  vessel  driven  before  the  mighty  blast ; 
the  vessel  on  a  lee-shore  ;  the  rocks  right  before  the  crew ; 
death  staring  them  in  the  face ;  the  mariners  not  know- 
ing what  to  do ;  despair  on  every  countenance — some  cry- 
ing for  mercy  ;  wives,  children  and  friends  on  the  shore,  but 
unable  to  render  them  any  assistance  ;  one  crying  out,  "  My 


WILLIAM  DAWSON, 


319 


brother  is  lost another,  "  My  father  is  there."  At  length 
the  vessel  strikes  on  the  rocks ;  masts  going  overboard  ;  a 
tremendous  crash  ;  awful  shrieks  ;  the  survivors  clinging  to 
diflereut  parts  of  the  wreck ;  waves  dashing  over  her ;  in 
danger  of  going  to  pieces.  At  this  moment,  when  all  were 
breathless  at  the  awful  scene  described ;  while  they  could 
hear  the  winds  whistle,  the  waves  roar  as  its  dashing  surges 
broke  over  the  wreck,  and  amid  and  above  the  voice  of 
either,  could  hear  the  cry  of  the  perishing  for  help — ^just  as 
the  audience  were  breathless,  thrilled  and  chilled  with  horror, 
he  cried  out,  "  What  is  to  be  done  now  ?  all  is  going,  going 
forever !"  "  What  is  to  be  done  ?"  bawled  out  a  tar  in  the 
midst  of  the  congregation ;  "  why,  launch  the  life-boat." 

All  this  he  applied  to  the  general  shipwreck  of  \ human 
nature,  and  to  the  only  life-boat  that  could  save  from  the 
storm.  "Blessed  be  God,"  said  he,  "though  there  is  no 
life-boat  in  hell,  we  have  one  here !"  He  then  directed  them 
to  Him  who  is  not  only  the  way  and  the  truth,  but  the  life. 

Years  aftervvard,  it  was  talked  about,  and  styled  by  tho 
sailors,  "  The  Life-boat  Sermon."' 

DAWSON  AND  THE  SOLEMN  TRIFLER. 

A  person  who  was  anxious  to  be  thought  cunning,  once  be- 
gan to  exhibit  his  wit,  in  company  with  a  few  religious 
friends,  while  Mr.  Dawson  was  present,  by  stating  that  when 
he  became  serious,  he  advertised  a  sale  of  his  effects,  refer- 
ring to  sin,  and  resolved  upon  selHng  all  off.  Mr.  Dawson, 
to  put  a  stop  to  what  might  lead  to  a  trifling  mode  of  conver- 
sation on  a  subject  so  awfully  serious  as  sin,  returned,  "  A 
buyer  would  be  wanting  for  the  stuff :  the  devil  would  not 
give  a  price,  for  it  was  his  already ;  God  would  have  noth- 
ing to  do  with  it,  for  he  hates  it;  and  man  needs  it  not,  for 
he  would  find  he  had  enough  of  his  own  without  it."  He 
could  relish  wit,  but  not  when  "  reason  put  in  her  claim  for 
the  one  half  of  it,  and  extravagance  for  the  other." 

17 


880  THE  HEROES  OF  METHODISM. 


DAWSON  AND  THE  EDITOR. 

To  an  editor  who  had  been  very  undignified  in  controversy, 
and  given  exhibitions  of  ridicule  and  low  wit,  he  gave  the 
following  advice :  "  Answer  his  reasonings  like  a  man  of  rea- 
son, and  not  like  a  goose,  who,  when  a  gentleman  walks 
steadily  on,  runs  and  hisses  at  him,  and  returns  to  her  flock, 
and  informs  them  what  a  victory  she  has  got,  and  flutters 
and  cackles  most  triumphantly  !" 

DAWSON  ON  «'  READING  A  SPEECH." 

At  a  missionary  anniversary  one  of  the  speakers  appeared 
on  the  platform,  with  a  bundle  of  papers  in  his  hand.  Mr. 
Dawson  was  suspicious  of  an  attempt  upon  the  patience  of 
the  people  and  inquired,  "  AVhat  he  was  going  to  do  with 
all  those  papers."  "  To  read  them,  to  be  sure,"  was  the  reply. 
"  What,  the  whole  of  them  ?"  "  Yes,"  said  the  intended  read- 
er ;  adding,  "  such  documents  constitute  the  life  blood  of  a 
speech."  "Let  me  tell  you,  then,"  said  Mr.  Dawson — who 
looked  upon  reading  on  a  platform  as  producing  the  same 
effects  upon  a  congregation  that  a  damper  produces  when 
put  into  the  oven,  and  who  well  knew  the  difference  be- 
tween the  exercise  of  the  intellect  upon  written  documents, 
and  matter  bubbling  up  from  the  heart — "  let  me  tell  you, 
that  your  speech  will  die  of  apoplexy,  for  the  blood  has  all 
gone  up  to  the  heady 


EEV.  JOHN  COLLINS. 


THE  REV.  JOHN  COLLINS. 


John  Collins  was  a  very  distinguished  man — distinguished 
not  only  for  his  talents  as  a  preacher,  and  his  zeal  in  the 
cause  of  his  Master,  but  also  for  his  success.  He  was  a  native 
of  New-Jersey,  born  in  1769,  and  was  brought  up  a  Quaker, 
using  the  plain  language  thee  and  thou.  After  he  was  con- 
verted to  God,  and  had  identified  himself  with  Methodism, 
he  laboured  some  years  in  New-Jersey,  as  a  local  preacher, 
with  great  acceptability  and  usefulness.  In  1804  he  emi- 
grated to  what  was  then  called  the  West,  and  settled  in  Ohio. 
He  was  the  pioneer  of  Methodism  in  Cincinnati,  and  in  many 
other  places.  He  preached  the  first  Methodist  sermon  in  the 
"  Queen  City  of  the  West,"  to  twelve  persons,  in  an  upper 
room.  Since  then,  the  little  sapling  has  become  a  mighty 
tree,  the  rill  has  become  a  river,  "the  wilderness  and  the 
solitary  place  have  been  made  glad,  and  the  desert  has 
rejoiced  and  blossomed  as  the  rose."  After  labouring  as  a 
local  preacher  for  three  years  in  Ohio,  he  joined  the  Western 
Conference  in  1807.  After  filling  many  important  stations, 
with  honour  to  himself  and  usefulness  to  the  Church,  he 
fCught  his  last  battle  and  conquered  his  last  enemy  in 
Maysville,  Kentucky,  21st  of  August,  1845. 

Mr.  Collins  went  down  to  his  grave  full  of  years  and  full 
of  honours.  He  was  a  man  the  Church  delighted  to  honour. 
As  a  man,  he  was  one  of  the  noblest  specimens — a  noble 
body  and  a  noble  soul.  As  a  preacher,  he  excelled  in  argu- 
ment. He  could  use  Heaven's  burning  logic.  He  abounded, 
also,  in  illustration,  and  would  relate  anecdotes  and  incidents 
with  powerful  efiect    His  preaching  was  distinguished  both 


884  THE  HEROES  OF  METHODISM. 


for  pathos  and  power.  "  He  preached  like  a  man  that  had 
measured  eternity,  and  taken  the  dimensions  of  a  soul." 
Abundant  seals  he  had  to  his  ministry,  "living  epistles," 
among  whom  were  Judge  M'Lean  and  his  brother.  "  Though 
being  dead,  he  yet  speaks;"  many  rise  up  and  call  him 
blessed.   His  name  in  Ohio  is  held  in  grateful  remembrance. 

"  The  long  and  eventful  life  of  Mr.  Collins  is  made  up  of 
many  important  and  interesting  events.  His  history  is 
identified  with  the  history  of  the  "West.  His  usefulness  as  a 
preacher  is  unsui-passed  in  Western  Ohio.  As  a  successful 
pastor,  we  never  knew  his  superior.  His  philosophic  turn  of 
mind  eminently  qualified  him  to  meet  the  objections  of 
sceptical  minds,  and  many  of  this  class  have  reason  to 
rejoice  that  they  were  blessed  with  his  instructions.  Broth- 
er Collins  possessed  a  strong  and  vigorous  intellect,  a  quick 
and  clear  perception.  His  lively  imagination  enabled  him 
to  employ  the  whole  field  of  nature  to  illustrate  the  truths 
of  grace." — Minutes  for  1845. 

Judge  M'Lean,  who  acknowledges  Mr.  Collins  as  his  spir- 
itual father,  has  done  a  service  to  the  Church  in  writing  a 
sketch  of  the  life  of  Rev.  John  ColHns.  We  only  regret  its 
brevity.  To  it  I  am  indebted  for  some  anecdotes  and  inci- 
dents, as  well  as  to  other  sources  of  information. 


COLLIXS  AXD  THE  QUAKER. 

Mr.  Collins,  when  a  local  preacher,  often  preached  in  Quaker 
neighbourhoods  in  his  native  state,  New-Jersey,  before  he 
emigrated  to  the  West.  He  was  to  preach  in  a  certain 
place  one  evening.    The  night  before,  a  Friend,  who  was 


JOHN  COLLINS. 


385 


opposed  to  bira  and  his  sentiments,  had  a  peculiar  dream. 
In  his  dream  he  beheld  the  scenes  of  the  last  judgment, 
and  unagined  himself  weighed  in  the  balance,  and,  to  his 
horror,  found  wanting.  While  expecting,  in  terror,  his  sen- 
tence, the  Judge  said,  Weigh  him  again,"  when  suddenly 
he  awoke. 

The  next  day,  one  of  his  neighbours  invited  him  to  attend 
Mr.  CoUins's  preaching,  and  judge  for  himself  of  the  man  he 
was  opposing ;  but  he  declined  most  positively.  His  friend 
then  urged  him  to  accompany  him  in  a  short  walk,  for  the 
purpose  of  some  special  conversation ;  he  consented,  and  was 
led  unsuspectingly  toward  the  place  of  worship.  When  he 
found  himself  near,  he  attempted  to  return,  but  was  urged  to 
enter,  and  he  complied  with  the  request.  He  agreed  to  hear 
for  once  what  the  preacher  had  to  say.  He  sat  down,  with 
his  broad  brim  on,  and  not  in  the  best  frame  of  mind  to 
hear;  for  he  was  full  of  prejudice  as  they  were  proceeding 
with  the  opening  service  before  the  sermon.  When  this  was 
through  the  preacher  arose,  and,  with  the  utmost  solemnity, 
gave  out  for  his  text,  "7%ow  art  weighed  in  the  balances^  and 
art  found  wanting^ 

The  Quaker  was  astonished,  and  the  recollection  of  his 
terrible  dream  made  the  discourse  much  more  impressive. 
As  the  preacher  proceeded  with  his  sermon,  describing  the 
•  Scriptural  standard  of  experimental  religion,  the  Quaker  was 
convinced  that  he  was  indeed  "  wanting  "  in  everything  that 
constituted  genuine  piety.  He  was  convinced  "  of  sin,  of 
righteousness,  and  of  judgment;"  of  the  necessity  of  securing 
a  "wedding  garment"  that  would  qualify  him  to  mingle 
with  those  John  saw  with  their  redemption-robes  before  the 
throne.  He  sought  and  found  the  Lord,  and  united  himself 
with  the  Church  he  had  opposed ;  and  in  him  the  preacher 
found  a  sincere  and  Steadfast  friend. 

Mr.  Collins  used  to  relate  the  anecdote,  and  conclude  by 
saying,  "  He  made  one  of  the  best  class-leaders  I  ever  knew 
in  the  Church." 


386  THE  HEROES  OF  METHODISM. 


COLLINS  LAYING  DOWN  HIS  COMMISSION : 

Not  his  commission  to  preach  Jesus  and  the  resurrection, 
this  he  never  did  till  he 

The  body  with  his  charge  laid  down, 
And  ceased  at  once  to  work  and  live 

but  when  he  was  converted,  he  held  the  office  of  major 
of  the  militia  ;  this  he  laid  down  when  he  received  a  com- 
mission in  Immanuel's  army.  The  one  who  succeeded  him 
came  to  purchase  his  uniform  and  arms,  and  Mr.  CoUins 
said  to  him,  in  his  own  peculiar  style,  "  My  friend^  when 
you  put  these  on  think  of  the  reason  why  I  put  them  offP 
The  remark  made  an  indelible  impression  upon  his  mind, 
sunk  deep  into  his  soul,  and  led  to  important  results.  It  led 
him  to  reflect,  and  his  reflections  led  him  to  act.  He  also 
renounced  his  commission,  and  became  a  man  of  prayer ;  he 
yielded  to  the  most  illustrious  of  conquerors  enlisted  in 
the  army  of  the  redeemed,  and  fought  under  the  great 
"  Captain  of  our  salvation." 

COLLINS'S  REMARKABLE  DREAM. 

While  Mr.  Collins  was  attending  one  of  his  appointments 
in  the  West,  he  dreamed  that  he  received  at  the  Post-office 
a  letter  bearing  a  black  seal,  and  containing  inteUigence  of 
the  death  of  his  father  then  in  Xew-Jersey.  It  made  so 
deep  an  impression  on  his  mind  that  he  made  a  record  of  it. 

Two  weeks  afterward,  on  returning  home,  he  received  just 
such  a  letter  as  he  had  seen  in  his  dream,  sealed  with  black ; 
and  the  date  of  his  father's  death  agreed  with  the  record 
in  his  diary. 

COLLINS'S  FIRST  SERMON. 

Mr.  Collins  was  afraid  he  should  "  run  before  he  was  sent," 
and  therefore  long  resisted  the  con\4ction  that  it  was  his  duty 


JOHN  COLLINS. 


SSI 


to  preach  the  Gospel.  Finally,  he  consented  to  try  once, 
and  if  he  was  successful  in  the  awakening  of  one  soul  he 
would  consider  this  as  evidence  of  his  call  to  the  ministry. 
While  on  his  way  to  a  place  of  worship,  a  text  suddenly 
came  into  his  mind,  which  he  thought  would  be  a  suitable 
theme  for  a  discourse ;  but  he  could  not  remember  chapter, 
and  verse.  He  entered  a  house,  just  as  a  young  man  was 
reading  the  sacred  Scriptures.  Singularly  enough,  the  text 
he  wanted  to  find  was  a  part  of  the  lesson  read.  He  preached 
from  it  with  such  power  and  pathos  that  the  young  man  was 
awakened  under  the  sermon,  and  was  soon  after  converted  to 
God,  and  became  one  of  the  most  eloquent  preachers  in  the 
Methodist  connexion.  In  the  West  he  was  well  known,  uni- 
versally beloved,  and  is  still  most  deeply  lamented.  His 
name  was  Learner  Blackman.  For  many  years  he  travelled 
extensively,  and  preached  the  Gospel  from  the  Ohio  to  the 
Mississippi. 

His  end  was  tragical  and  painful.  Returning  from  the 
conference  which  was  held  in  1815,  in  Cincinnati,  he  was 
drowned  in  crossing  the  Ohio  River.  His  conversion  was  not 
the  only  fruit  of  Mr.  CoUins's  first  sermon.  Ten  more  of  the 
family  were  converted  under  it.  Heaven  set  the  broad  seal 
of  its  approbation  upon  his  first  sermon,  and  he  no  longer 
doubted  or  hesitated  in  regard  to  duty.  He  gave  himself 
wholly  to  the  work,  and  "  made  full  proof  of  his  ministry," 
for  he  had  everywhere  living  epistles,  l^nown  and  read  of  all 
men. 

COLLINSES  SERMON  IN  CINCINNATL 

Mr.  Collins  preached  one  day  in  Cincinnati,  to  a  large  con- 
gregation, and  feeling  a  desire  to  discharge  his  duty  faith- 
fully and  to  the  general  acceptance  of  the  congregation,  he 
became  embarrassed,  and  utterly  confused  in  his  ideas,  and 
being  wholly  unable  to  recover  himself,  the  thought  occurred 
to  him  while  preaching,  that  so  soon  as  the  service  was  end- 

17* 


388  THE  HEROES  OF  METHODISM. 


ed  he  would  leave  the  house,  avoid  his  friends,  and  never 
return  to  the  town. 

This  suggestion  he  resisted ;  but  he  was  deeply  mortified 
and  dejected.  The  next  day  he  preached  in  the  country  on 
his  circuit,  and  felt  uncommon  liberty.  This,  before  he  was 
aware,  elevated  his  feelings,  and  he  saw  there  was  a  selfish 
principle  at  the  bottom.  On  this  view  he  retired  to  a  soli- 
tary place,  fell  upon  his  knees,  and  poured  out  his  whole 
soul  before  God.  He  prayed  fervently  that  he  might  be 
kept  from  despondency  on  the  one  hand,  and  from  an  undue 
elevation  on  the  other. 

Some  two  months  after  this,  being  at  a  love-feast  in  Cin- 
cinnati, a  sister  rose  and  told  the  congregation  that  she  re- 
ceived the  convictions  which  led  to  her  conversion  under  the 
discourse  of  Mr.  Collins,  which  had  given  him  so  much  pain. 
Hearing  this,  "  he  thanked  God  and  took  courage."  And 
this  led  him  to  a  resolution  which  was  never  afterward 
shaken,  that  in  preaching  he  would  do  the  best  he  could  and 
leave  the  result  to  God. 

Ministers  often  are  left  in  the  same  way  to  teach  them 
wherein  their  great  strength  lieth  ;  "  that  it  is  not  by  might, 
nor  by  power,  but  by  my  Spirit,  saith  the  Lord  :" — that 
"  Paul  may  plant,  Apollos  water,  but  God  giveth  the  in- 
crease." The  planting  of  the  one,  and  the  watering  of  the 
other,  availeth  nothing  without  the  divine  blessing. 

COLLIN'S  AND  THE  CALVINISTIC  WOMAN. 

Mr.  Collins  once  preached  at  a  private  house  in  Springfield, 
Ohio.  A  Calvinistic  lady  was  present,  and  remained  after 
the  congregation  had  left,  to  converse  with  him.  She  com- 
menced the  conversation  by  saying,  "  Mr.  Collins,  I  don't 
like  your  doctrines."  With  a  mild  and  benevolent  smile, 
he  observed,  "  I  am  sorry  to  hear  you  pay  so,  sister ;  but  to 
what  particular  doctrine  do  you  object?"     She  replied, 


JOHN  COLLINS. 


889 


"  You  do  not  preach  the  perseverance  of  the  saints."  My 
dear  sister,"  said  he,  "  you  are  mistaken ;  I  preach  to  the 
saints  that  they  must  persevere,  or  they  cannot  be  saved." 

COLLINS  AND  THE  DRUNKARD. 

One  day  Mr.  CoUins  met  a  drunken  man  in  the  street,  who 
came  up  to  him,  and  professing  much  regard,  observed,  "  Mr. 
Collins,  you  converted  me  some  years  ago."  "  I  converted 
you !  no  doubt  it  was  I ;  it  looks  like  my  work." 

COLLINS  AND  THE  COUNTRY  FUNERAL. 

When  the  country  was  new  and  but  thinly  settled,  Mr.  Col- 
lins was  riding  upon  the  banks  of  the  Ohio  River,  some 
thirty  or  forty  miles  above  Cincinnati,  in  company  with  a 
friend,  when  they  came  to  the  forks  of  the  road ;  the  left 
hand  road  led  more  directly  to  their  place  of  destination, 
the  right  was  more  circuitous ;  but  Mr.  Collins,  against  re- 
monstrance, preferred  the  latter,  from  an  impression  which 
he  did  not  particularly  define.  It  led  to  the  mouth  of  Red 
Oak,  where  the  town  of  Ripley  is  now  situated. 

As  they  approached  this  point  they  saw  a  funeral  proces- 
sion, which  they  immediately  joined,  and  followed  it  to  the 
grave.  It  was  the  first  funeral  in  that  place.  The  corpse 
was  the  wife  of  Mr.  Bernard  Jackson,  an  avowed  infidel. 
After  the  grave  was  covered,  Mr.  Collins  made  known  to  the 
people  that  he  was  a  preacher  of  the  Gospel,  and  would 
then  preach  a  sermon  to  all  that  remained.  No  one  went 
away.  He  read  for  his  text,  "  I  am  the  resurrection  and  the 
life :  he  that  believeth  in  me,  though  he  were  dead,  yet 
shall  he  live ;"  and  preached  with  overwhelming  power. 

The  solemnity  of  the  occasion,  and  the  circumstances 
which  brought  him  to  the  place,  added,  no  doubt,  to  the 
effect  of  the  discourse.  No  one  could  apply  circumstances 
more  forcibly  than  Mr.  Collins.  There  were  many  tears  and 


390  THE  HEROES  OF  METHODISM. 


sobs  in  the  congregation.  The  infidel  husband  was  over- 
whelmed ;  and  from  that  day  and  hour  he  renounced  infi- 
delity, shortly  after  became  a  member  of  the  Church,  lived 
to  adorn  the  Christian  religion,  and  died  in  peace.  He  had  one 
son,  who  is  now  a  traveling  preacher  in  the  state  of  Indiana. 

Mr.  Collins  beheved  in  a  special  Providence.  The  inclina- 
tion to  take  the  right  hand  road,  he  believed  was  prompted 
by  it,  of  which  he  could  entertain  no  doubt,  when  he  saw 
the  funeral  procession,  and  preached  to  the  mourning  crowd. 

"  And  is  this,"  says  Judge  M'Lean,  who  relates  this  in- 
cident, "  too  small  a  matter  for  Deity  ?  Peter  was  called  to 
preach  to  Cornelius ;  and  his  objections  were  overcome  in 
an  extraordinary  manner.  Phihp,  being  prompted  by  the 
Spirit,  joined  himself  to  the  chariot  of  the  eunuch,  and 
'  preached  to  him  Jesus.'  And  who  that  believes  the  Bible 
does  not  believe  that  the  same  Spirit  operates  more  or  less 
upon  Christians  at  the  present  day  f 

COLLINS  AND  J.  B.  FINLEY. 

In  1833  Mr.  Collins  attended  a  camp-meeting  near  Bata- 
via.  Mr.  Finley  was  preaching,  and  the  power  of  the  Lord 
descended  upon  the  people  in  a  remarkable  manner.  The 
preacher  was  divinely  assisted.  When  he  was  about  two- 
thirds  through  with  his  sermon,  Mr.  Collins,  who  was  seated 
on  the  stand,  arose  and  touched  him  on  the  shoulder,  and 
said,  "  Now,  brother,  stop ;  keep  the  rest  for  another  time, 
and  throw  out  the  Gospel  net ;  it  is  now  wet,  and  we  shall  have 
a  good  haul."  Mr.  Finley  obeyed,  the  net  was  thrown  out, 
and  there  was  abundance  of  fish  when  it  was  drawn  in. — 
Finley'i  Western  Methodism. 

COLLINS  AND  THE  BANK-NOTE. 

In  1832,  when  the  General  Conference  held  its  session  in 
Philadelphia,  Rev.  John  Colhns  spent  the  Sabbath  in  Tren- 


JOHN  COLLINS. 


ton,  N.  J.,  and  related  the  following  anecdote  to  Wm.  C. 
Howell,  Esq.,  with  whom  he  put  up.  In  a  letter  to  me, 
Mr.  Howell  says  :  "  Father  Collins,  of  Ohio,  was  a  very  inter- 
esting man.  He  was  full  of  anecdote,  but  all  were  of  a  se- 
rious character,  and  calculated  to  profit.  The  only  one  I 
recollect  distinctly  is  that  of  the  genuine  hank-note.^'' 

When  Mr.  Collins  was  presiding  elder  in  Ohio,  he  held  a 
quarterly  meeting  where  the  congregation  was  new  to  him. 
At  the  love-feast,  a  brother  of  timid,  doubting  disposition, 
arose  and  said,  "  Brethren,  I  feel  to-day  as  though  I  was  in 
doubt  what  to  say.  Sometimes  I  think  I  have  religion,  and 
then,  again,  I  hardly  know  whether  I  have  or  not.  I  wish  to 
be  a  child  of  God,  and  save  my  soul ;  but  I  hardly  know  how 
it  is  with  me.  I  should  Hke  to  know  what  the  brethren 
think  of  me ;"  and  then  sat  down. 

Brother  Collins  sat  some  time  waiting  for  some  one  to  re- 
ply to  the  brother.  As  no  one  spoke,  he  said  he  was  moved, 
as  if  by  inspiration,  to  say  what  follows,  although  he  did 
not  know  when  he  began  where  he  would  end,  viz. : 

"  A  man  is  in  utter  poverty,  deeply  in  debt,  and  has  noth- 
ing to  pay  with.  He  is  sorely  aflflicted  in  consequence  of  it. 
He  owes  a  thousand  dollars.  A  friend  pities  him,  and  pre- 
sents him  with  a  bank  note  sufficient  to  pay  off  the  whole. 
The  man  receives  it  with  gratitude,  and  hastens  to  his  credit- 
ors to  pay  oflF  his  indebtedness.  On  the  way  he  meets  a 
friend,  who,  knowing  his  difficulties,  and  seeing  him  so 
buoyant  in  spirit,  hails  him,  and  asks  him  which  way  ?  The 
man  tells  him  that  a  friend  had  presented  him  with  a  bank 
note  sufficient  to  pay  his  debts,  and  he  was  on  his  way  to 
do  so. 

"  The  friend  says,  *  Let  me  see  your  note.'  He  shows  it  to 
him.  The  friend  condemns  it  as  counterfeit — good  for  noth- 
ing. The  man's  spirit  sinks  within  him.  He  is  disposed  to 
turn  back ;  but  thinks  again,  *  I  will  show  it  to  another  friend.* 
He  does  so.  The  second  friend  says,  *  The  note  is  good.'  His 
spirits  are  again  elevated,  and  he  proceeds  onward  and  meets 


392  THE  HEROES  OF  METHODISM. 


a  third  person,  to  whom  he  shows  it.  He  says,  '  It  is  counter- 
feit.' The  man  is  discouraged,  and  returns  home,  and  relates 
•  the  whole  thing  to  his  wife.  The  wife  says,  '  I  tell  you,  my 
dear,  what  I  would  do.  I  would  take  it  to  the  bank,  and 
show  it  to  the  cashier,  and  ask  him ;  he  will  tell  you  all 
about  it.' "  By  the  time  Father  Collins  had  got  thus  far, 
the  brother  caught  the  idea,  and  with  extended  arms  he 
arose,  his  countenance  beaming  with  celestial  splendour,  and 
shouted  at  the  top  of  his  voice,  "  Glory  to  God,  my  note  is 
genuine^'' 


EEY.  THEOPHILTJS  LESSEY. 


THE  REV.  THEOPHILUS  LESSEY. 


Tbeophilus  Lessey  was  one  of  the  best  preachers  English 
Methodism  has  produced.  The  following  brief  sketch  of  his 
career  is  taken  from  the  English  minutes  : 

"  He  was  born  at  Penzance,  in  Cornwall,  April  Y,  ITSY, 
and  was  presented  to  God  in  the  holy  sacrament  of  baptism 
by  the  venerable  John  Wesley.  His  father,  who  was  an 
esteemed  minister  in  the  Wesley  an  body,  endeavoured  to 
train  up  his  son  in  the  Lord's  ways  from  his  earliest  infancy. 
Nor  were  his  labours  vain.  Our  departed  friend  was  early 
moved  by  the  Holy  Spirit's  gracious  visitations  to  "know 
the  God  of  his  father,  and  to  serve  him  with  a  perfect  heart 
and  with  a  willing  mind."  Deep  impressions  of  God  and 
things  eternal  were  made  on  his  heart  while  at  Kingswood 
school ;  and,  at  the  age  of  sixteen  or  seventeen  years,  he  be- 
came a  partaker  of  that  scriptural  conversion  in  which  the 
divine  life  really  begins.  After  some  time  he  was  thought 
to  possess  talents  which  might,  by  God's  blessing,  render 
him  an  acceptable  and  useful  teacher  of  the  Christianity 
which  he  now  personally  enjoyed.  But  at  first  he  shrunk 
from  the  task.  His  father  also  was  of  opinion  that,  from 
his  constitutional  sensitiveness  and  timidity,  he  would  never 
be  competent  to  the  performance  of  public  services.  How 
Httle  did  he  then  foresee  the  station  which  that  diflBdent 
youth  would  occupy  among  the  guides  and  teachers  of  the 
Church  of  God !  He  engaged  for  some  time  as  a  local 
preacher,  and  was  afterward  conducted  through  the  usual 
trials  and  examinations  into  that  ministry  which  he  exercised 
with  so  much  ability  for  nearly  thirty-three  years.  The 


896 


THE  HEROES  OF  METHODISM. 


sphere  of  his  labours  became  more  and  more  extensive.  He 
stood  forth  as  one  of  the  most  powerful  preachers  of  God's 
truth  among  us,  and  was,  in  the  Christian  sanctuary,  'a 
burning  and  a  shining  light.'  The  memory  of  many  bears 
witness  to  his  character  as  a  public  teacher.  His  under- 
standing was  enlarged,  vigorous,  and  sound ;  his  spirit  was 
richly  imbued  with  sentiments  most  unfeignedly  and  deeply 
evangelical ;  his  attainments  were  of  a  highly  respectable 
order,  and  were  sacredly  devoted  to  the  service  of  scriptural 
theology,  in  which  he  greatly  excelled  ;  and  his  gifts  as  a 
preacher  were  of  no  ordinary  rank.  His  sermons  were  re- 
markable for  comprehensive  views  of  divine  truth  ;  for  clear 
expositions  of  the  word  and  ways  of  God  ;  for  a  strain  of 
thought  and  feeling  which  was  formed  and  guided  by  all 
that  relates  to  the  cross ;  for  a  lucid  and  orderly  communi- 
cation of  the  lessons  which  he  taught,  a  constant  reference 
to  the  varieties  of  Christian  experience  and  practice,  and  an 
eloquence  eminently  pathetic  and  powerful.  It  may  justly 
be  said  of  him,  that  he  was  '  a  workman  that  needeth  not 
to  be  ashamed,  rightly  dividing  the  word  of  truth.'  When 
he  had  for  a  series  of  years  extended  the  benefits  of  his  ser 
vices,  regular  or  occasional,  through  most  parts  of  the  con- 
nexion in  the  United  Kingdom,  he  was  at  length  raised,  in 
the  year  1839,  to  the  highest  station  of  the  body,  as  presi- 
dent of  the  conference ;  the  duties  of  which  station  he  dis- 
charged, for  the  short  time  that  health  was  continued  to  him, 
with  exemplary  zeal  and  fidehty ;  but  shortly  after  the  con- 
ference over  which  he  presided,  he  was  seized  with  the  afflic- 
tion which  remained,  with  different  degrees  of  severity,  for 
nearly  two  years,  and  at  length  issued  in  his  removal  to  the 
world  of  eternal  life.  During  that  affliction  he  afforded  a 
most  edifying  example  of  the  '  end '  of  a  Christian  '  conver- 
sation.' He  thirsted  for  larger  measures  of  sanctifying  grace, 
and  rejoiced  in  the  possession  of  them.  All  seemed  mature. 
'Christ,'  said  he,  'is  my  only  hope.  On  his  atonement  I 
rest — his  precious  atonement. 


THEOPHILUS  LESSEY. 


39^ 


•  In  my  hand  no  price  I  bring, 
Simply  to  his  cross  I  cling/ 

" '  I  cannot  now  kneel  before  God,  as  I  used  to  do ;  but  my 
mind  is  almost  constantly  engaged  in  prayer.'  'I  live  in 
the  favour  of  God.  I  am  a  poor,  sinful,  worthless  creature  ; 
yet  for  the  sake  of  Christ  he  has  blotted  out  my  transgres- 
sions, and  cast  my  sins  behind  his  back.  But  1  want  to  be 
wholly  sanctified  ;  as  the  apostle  s^s,  "  body,  soul,  spirit."  I 
want  this  body  so  to  partake  of  this  sanctifying  grace  that 
even  the  nervous  agitation  which  I  feel  when  anything  sud- 
denly surprises  me  may  be  done  away,  that  in  constant 
calmness  and  quietness  I  may  possess  my  soul.'  'I  am 
just  now  at  the  mercy-seat.  I  am  casting  myself  there.  It 
is  my  place  of  refuge — my  only  refuge.'  *  Precious  atone- 
ment !  the  sinner's  hope.'  '  0  for  more  of  God !'  *  I 
have  had  a  restless,  but  a  happy  night.  This  room  has 
been  a  Bethel  to  me ;  and  so  it  has  often  been ;  for  here  I 
have  held  sweet  communion  with  God  from  time  to  time. 
O  how  good  the  Lord  is  to  me  !'  Two  or  three  weeks  be- 
fore his  death  he  said,  with  uncommon  emphasis,  '  I  am 
sanctified!  sanctified  by  the  grace  of  God!  O  the  mercy 
and  goodness  of  God !'  Speaking  of  the  sudden  departure 
of  some  of  his  friends,  he  said,  '  If  it  be  the  Lord's  will,  I 
should  be  thankful  for  such  a  departure ;  but  if  he  sees  fit 
to  do 'otherwise  by  me,  I  trust  he  will  give  me  patience  and 
strength  to  endure  all  his  will.  I  little  expected  to  be  laid 
by  so  long ;  I  thought  I  should  have  died  in  the  harness ; 
but  it  is  all  right.  He  has  taken  me  from  the  hurry  and 
agitation  of  such  a  laborious  and  public  life  as  mine  has 
been,  and  has  led  me  into  a  comparatively  solitary  wilder- 
ness, apart  from  most  of  my  friends,  that  I  might  look  into 
my  own  heart,  to  humble  me,  and  to  prove  me,  and  to  give 
me,  by  more  uninterrupted  communion  with  himself,  a  fuller 
meetness  for  my  heavenly  inheritance.'  Speaking  to  Mr. 
Scott  on  the  subject  of  his  aflfliction,  he  said,  '  It  has  done 
me  good ;  and  whether  I  live  or  die  I  shall  be  the  better  for 


398 


THE  HEROES  OF  METHODISM. 


it.  I  feel  ready,  quite  ready,  to  go,  whenever  the  Lord  shall 
call  me.'  On  the  Sunday  before  his  death  he  was  greatly 
cheered  and  comforted  by  the  visit  and  conversation  of  Dr. 
Bunting,  to  whom  he  gave  the  most  delightful  testimonies 
of  the  peaceful  state  of  his  mind,  and  of  his  preparation  for 
whatever  the  Lord  might  think  fit  to  appoint  to  him.  On 
the  day  of  his  death  he  emphatically  repeated  a  couplet 
which  was  often  on  his  lips  : 

"  And  when  thou  sendest,  Lord,  for  me, 
0  let  the  messenger  be  love  !" ' 

His  death  was  sudden.  He  had  spent  a  comparatively 
quiet  and  easy  day,  when,  from  the  rupture  of  a  vessel  in 
his  lungs,  the  blood  began  to  flow  copiously.  He  rose  from 
his  chair,  apparently  oppressed  with  a  feeling  of  sufifocation, 
walked  into  his  bedroom,  sat  down  on  the  bedside,  and  with 
a  shght  quiver,  but  without  a  sigh  or  groan,  passed  at  once 
to  that  rest  for  which  it  had  pleased  God  so  mercifully  to 
prepare  him.  He  died  June  10,  1841,  in  the  55th  year  of 
his  age,  and  the  33d  of  his  ministry." 


MR.   LESSEY  AS  A  PREACHER  AND  PLATFORM 
SPEAKER. 

Mr.  Watson  once  said  to  him,  "  You  have  the  happy  art 
of  touching  the  hearts  of  the  people ;  you  reach  their  con- 
sciences, you  move  their  affections,  and  by  this  means  good, 
great  good,  is  done,  in  the  conversion  of  sinners  and  the  build- 
ing up  of  the  Church."  It  was  a  remark  of  Billy  Dawson's, 
that  Mr.  Lessey  "  had  the  heart  strings  of  the  people  in  his 
hands,  and  moved  them  just  as  he  pleased."    The  poet 


THEOPHILUS  LESSEY. 


399 


James  Montgomery,  was  a  great  admirer  of  Mr.  Lessey,  and 
wrote  a  letter  of  condolence  to  Mrs.  Lessey,  when  she  was 
left  a  widow.  Mr.  Lessey  was  also  the  intimate  friend  and 
correspondent  of  the  eloquent  and  elegant  Robert  Hall. 

He  excelled  as  a  platform  speaker  as  well  as  in  the  pulpit. 
This  is  not  always  the  case ;  some  ministers  are  giants  in 
the  pulpit,  children  on  the  platform.  There  are  others  who 
seem  to  be  far  more  at  home  on  the  platform  than  in  the 
pulpit.  Daniel  Webster  once  said,  "  If  a  lawyer  should  be 
shut  up  in  a  place  like  one  of  our  *  tub  pulpits,'  he  would 
never  accomplish  anything." 

Mr.  Lessey  was  honoured  by  his  brethren  by  being  elect- 
ed president  of  the  conference,  and  he  is  the  only  son  of  a 
Methodist  minister  on  whom  such  a  distinguished  honour 
has  been  conferred. 

Though  dead,  his  pulpit  and  platform  efforts  will  not 
soon  be  forgotten ;  the  influence  he  left  behind  him  is  hallow- 
ing. He  was  buried  close  by  the  remains  of  Richard  Wat- 
son, and  within  a  few  feet  of  the  tomb  of  the  venerated 
Wesley.  What  sacred  dust  is  sleeping  there!  What 
mighty  prisoners  the  grave  holds  there !  But  the  period 
is  coming  when  these  sleepers  shall  awake  at  the  sound  of 
the  trump  and  rise  to  life  immortal. 

LESSEY  AND  DAWSON. 

On  the  platform  Mr.  Lessey  was  sometimes  a  little  playful, 
but  generally  full  of  pathos.  Mr.  Thornton  gives  us  the  fol- 
lowing account  of  a  misssionary  meeting  which  Messrs.  Les- 
sey and  Dawson  addressed.  Mr.  Lessey's  address  was  emi- 
nently pathetic ;  his  health  was  then  feeble ;  he  had  suffered 
from  hemorrhage  of  the  lungs  several  times.  Mr.  Lessey 
described  the  greatness  and  glory  of  the  Missionary  work  as 
viewed  by  one  who  stands  on  the  borders  of  the  unseen  world; 
and  he  enlarged  with  his  characteristic  eloquence,  softened, 
but  not  enfeebled,  on  the  universal  charity  of  the  Gospel. 


400  THE  HEROES  OF  METHODISM. 


When  Mr.  Dawson  arose  to  speak,  he  was  overpowered  and 
burst  into  tears.  Finding  himself  scarcely  able  to  proceed, 
he  begged  the  president's  leave  to  give  out  one  verse  of  a 
hymn,  which  was  sung  with  much  emotion  by  the  assembly. 

"  Till  glad  he  lays  this  body  down, 

Thy  servant,  Lord,  attend, 
And  0  !  his  life  of  mercy  crown, 

With  a  triumphant  end." 

During  the  singing  Mr.  Lessey's  face  was  wrapped  in  his 
cloak,  and  for  some  time  after  he  was  deeply  affected.  After 
the  singing,  Mr.  Dawson  made  a  characteristic  and  effective 
speech. 

LESSEY  AND  THE  INFIDELS. 

In  the  month  of  July,  1829,  two  noted  infidels,  Carlisle  and 
Taylor,  visited  Stockport.  They  heard  of  the  fame  of  Mr. 
Lessey,  and  sent  him  a  challenge  to  publicly  discuss  the 
merits  of  the  Christian  religion  with  them.  Of  this  he  took 
no  direct  notice,  but  at  the  request  of  a  few  friends,  he 
preached  a  sermon  on  the  truth  of  Christianity.  An  over- 
flowing congregation  attended  on  the  occasion.  The  preacher 
seemed  to  rise  with  the  grandeur  and  dignity  of  his  theme, 
and  the  impression  produced  on  the  minds  of  his  audience, 
was  uncommonly  deep.  Some  could  scarcely  repress  their 
feelings,  while  Mr.  Lessey,  in  his  most  powerful  style  of  ar- 
gument and  eloquence,  proved  and  illustrated  the  truth  of 
Christianity,  as  the  only  basis  of  man's  immortal  hopes, 
while  he  also  exposed  the  absurdity  of  infidelity.  Many  in- 
fidels whose  curiosity  had  led  them  to  hear  him,  retired  from 
the  chapel  with  something  like  the  air  and  manner  of  crim- 
inals, when  sentence  had  been  pronounced  against  them. 

LESSEY  AND  THE  COUNTRY  PREACHER. 

On  one  occasion  a  country  preacher  whom  Mr.  Lessey 
scarcely  knew,  had  written  to  him  at  a  time  when  he  wa* 


THEOPHILUS  LESSEY.  401 

much  engaged,  requesting  him  to  make  inquiries  concerning 
a  situation  for  his  daughter.  A  friend  present  signified  that 
he  might  delay  this  matter  for  a  while.  "  No,"  replied  he, 
"  I  will  do  all  I  can  to  serve  a  brother  minister.  It  is  possi- 
ble that  my  own  children  may  one  day  be  thrown  upon  stran- 
gers."   This  certainly  was  acting  in  the  spirit  of  the  hymn, 

"  Help  us  to  help  each  other,  Lord, 

Each  other's  cross  to  bear ; 
Let  each  his  friendly  aid  afford, 

And  feel  his  brother's  care." 

LESSEY'S  PUNCTUALITY. 

One  stormy  night  when  the  wind  was  howling,  and  the 
snow  fell  fast,  Mr.  Lessey  had  an  appointment  in  the  coun- 
try. Mrs.  Lessey  tried  to  dissuade  him  from  going,  saying 
it  was  dangerous  to  venture  out  such  a  night  as  that. 
^Hush,"  said  he,  "  you,  as  a  preacher's  wife,  ought  not  at 
any  risk  to  dissuade  him  from  the  performance  of  his  duty, 
but  should  be  ready  to  turn  even  your  husband  out  in  such 
weather,  rather  than  he  should  neglect  his  proper  work." 

LESSEY  ON  POPERY. 

Mr.  Lessey  visited  Dublin  in  1839,  and  delivered  some  ad- 
dresses there,  which  were  efficient  and  masterly.  They 
were  baptized  with  Protestantism. 

A  subscription  from  a  converted  Roman  Catholic  lady  was 
handed  up  at  one  of  the  meetings,  with  a  slip  of  paper,  on 
which  was  written,  "  A  thank-oflfering  of  gratitude  to  Al- 
mighty God,  for  saving  me,  through  the  instrumentality  of 
the  Methodist  ministry,  from  the  errors  of  Popery  and  the 
horrors  and  expenses  of  the  confessional."  "Shortly  after 
this,"  says  Mr.  Fannin,  who  was  present,  "  Mr.  Lessey  arose  in 
one  of  his  most  impassioned  moods,  and  gave  utterance  to 
Nrsts  of  eloquence,  which  astonished  and  delighted  all  who 


402  THE  HEROES  OF  METHODISif. 


heard  him.  He  drew  a  picture  of  Popery  to  the  life,  and 
exposed  it  in  its  true  colours ;  he  assured  the  Irish  Protest- 
ants that  all  the  sound,  good,  and  right  feeling  of  England 
sympathized  with  them ;  and  he  also  admirably  showed  the 
singular  fitness  of  Wesleyan  Methodism  in  all  the  branches 
of  its  agency,  and  its  other  institutions,  to  counteract  not  only 
the  errors  of  popery,  but  every  error  incident  to  man,  and  to 
lead  him  to  happiness  here,  and  to  heaven  hereafter. 

"  Large  subscriptions,"  adds  Mr.  Fannin,  "  and  gifts  of 
land  to  build  chapels  and  school-houses  in  different  parts  of 
the  country,  were  the  immediate  results  of  this  speech,  and 
were  acknowledged  as  such." 

Mr.  Lessey  was  requested  to  furnish  a  copy  of  his  speech 
for  publication,  but  he  replied,  "  it  was  altogether  extempo- 
raneous." 

LESSEY  AND  OLD  JAMES. 

A  poor,  aged  member  of  the  Society  in  Weymouth,  was  an 
eminent  example  of  Christian  faith.  He  had  passed  the 
years  of  his  strength  at  sea,  a  rough,  coarse,  ungodly  mariner. 
His  health  failing,  he  was  compelled  to  abandon  the  sea- 
faring life,  and  do  what  he  could  to  provide  himself  with 
support.  He  occasionally  attended  the  Wesleyan  Chapel, 
and,  yielding  to  the  agency  of  God's  Holy  Spirit  on  his 
heart,  was  made  an  humble  and  joyful  partaker  of  divine 
love. 

He  longed  to  do  something  for  the  good  of  his  fellow-men, 
and  was  wont  to  "  cast  his  bread  upon  the  waters,"  by  dropping 
a  useful  word,  as  opportunity  allowed,  in  the  ears  of  others, 
exhorting,  encouraging,  reproving,  in  some  short  terse  sen- 
tence, every  acquaintance  he  passed  in  the  street.  Mr. 
Lessey  found  him  too  feeble  to  do  any  regular  work.  He 
was  receiving  an  allowance  of  five  shillings  a  week,  which 
he  expended  in  a  way  that  deserves  to  be  mentioned.  Two 
ehillings  and  six  pence  he  paid  to  his  sister  who  was  a  poor 


THEOPHILUS  LESSEY. 


403 


woman,  for  his  lodging  and  washing ;  six  pence  a  week  he 
set  apart  for  the  poor-box,  the  Missions,  and  for  tlie  support 
of  the  cause  of  God  in  the  town  where  he  dwelt ;  one  shilling 
a  quarter  he  gave  for  a  seat  in  the  chapel,  and  another  as 
His  contribution  at  the  quarterly  renewal  of  the  society's 
tickets ;  thus  reserving  only  one  shilling  and  ten  pence  a  week 
for  food,  fire,  and  clothing.  Yet  old  James,  as  he  was  called, 
never  wanted.  His  necessities  were  supplied,  according  to 
his  faith,  by  the  bountiful  providence  of  God ;  and  "  he  went 
on  his  way  rejoicing."  He  commonly  spent  the  Lord's  day 
in  the  chapel  and  vestry.  Taking  his  Bible  and  a  little 
bread  and  cheese  with  him,  he  repaired  thither  to  the  early 
prayer  meeting,  and  did  not  return  home  till  the  last  evening 
service  was  concluded.  Mr.  Lessey's  ministrations  were 
exceedingly  edifying  to  old  James.  To  hear  Christ  pro- 
claimed in  all  his  offices,  (and  this  formed  one  of  the  pecu- 
liar excellences  of  Mr.  Lessey's  discourses,)  was  the  joy  of 
his  heart.  Never  did  he  meet  his  beloved  pastor  without 
giving  utterance  to  some  strong  expression  of  gratitude  for 
benefits  received  through  his  instrumentality.  He  has  long 
since  entered  into  his  rest,  but  his  "  works"  of  self-denying 
charity  "  do  still  follow  him."  Such  examples  do  not  always 
find  a  place  in  the  annals  of  earth.  Are  they  ever  omitted  in 
the  annals  of  heaven  ? 


LESSEY  AND  THE  DRUNKARD. 

One  Sunday  afternoon  in  Hahfax,  England,  in  1825,  a  noto- 
rious drunkard  repaired,  as  usual,  to  the  public  house ;  but 
the  landlady  refused  to  supply  him  with  any  more  liquor 
until  the  old  score,  which  stood  against  him,  was  discharged. 
At  last,  however,  she  consented  to  let  him  have  a  pot  of 
beer  for  his  hat.  Not  a  drop  more  would  she  give  him ;  and 
he  returned  home  mortified  and  vexed.  On  entering  his 
cottage,  he  perceived  a  tract  lying  on  the  table.  It  had  just 
18 


404 


THE  HEROES  OF  METHODISM. 


been  left  by  a  tract  distributer.  A  wood-cut  on  the  first 
page  attracted  his  attention.  That  cut  represented  a  woman, 
the  mistress  of  a  public-house,  driving  a  drunken-looking 
fellow  from  her  door,  while  she  pointed  with  one  hand  to  a 
long  score  on  the  wall,  and  held  his  hat  in  the  other. 
The  man  was  thunderstruck.  It  was  precisely  such  a  scene 
as  the  one  in  which  he  had  just  been  an  actor.  He  saw 
what  an  object  of  contempt  and  derision  he  had  rendered 
himself  by  his  misconduct,  and  resolved  that  he  would 
change  his  course.  Having  washed  and  dressed  himself,  ho 
set  out,  after  tea,  for  a  walk ;  but  as  he  passed  the  Wesleyan 
Chapel,  he  was  attracted  by  the  singing  which  he  heard, 
and  turned  in  thither. 

Mr.  Lessey  was  the  preacher.  The  word  of  God  as 
administered  by  him,  reached  the  heart  of  this  poor  sinner. 
From  that  time  he  resolved  that  he  would  regularly  attend  the 
chapel,  entirely  withdrawing  himself  from  the  scenes  of  his 
accustomed  resort.  Deep  conviction  had  seized  upon  his 
heart.  He  was  heavily  burdened  with  a  sense  of  his  guilti- 
ness before  God,  and  earnestly  sought  acceptance  with  him. 
The  Sunday  but  one  after  the  above  mentioned  event  had 
occurred,  he  again  heard  Mr.  Lessey,  and,  during  the  sermon, 
was  enabled  to  commit  himself  by  faith  into  the  hands  of 
our  Lord  Jesus  Christ.  He  instantly  found  the  mercy  for 
which  he  mourned,  and  "went  down  to  his  house  justified." 
The  change  was  not  transitory.  He  continued  stead- 
fast in  the  ways  of  the  Lord ;  and  more  than  a  year  after- 
wards, himself  recited  the  circumstances  of  his  wonderful 
conversion  in  a  Wesleyan  lovefeast,  rejoicing  in  that  divine 
compassion  which  had  plucked  him  also  as  a  "fire-brand 
out  of  the  burning." 


KEY.  JACOB  aRTJBER. 


REV.  JACOB  GRUBER. 


The  following  sketch  of  the  Rev.  Jacob  Gruber  was  prepared 
by  the  Rev.  T.  H.  W.  Monroe,  for  the  Christian  Advocate 
and  Journal : 

"The  Rev.  Jacob  Gruber  was  born  in  Bucks  county,  Pa., 
February  3,  IVYS.  His  parents,  John  and  Plautina  Gruber, 
though  natives  of  Pennsylvania,  were  of  German  descent  and 
dialect,  their  parents  having  emigrated  from  Germany.  They 
were  members  of  the  Lutheran  Church,  in  which  they  had 
been  trained  from  infancy;  and,  as  a  matter  of  course, 
brought  up  their  children  in  the  same  faith. 

"  At  this  early  period  Methodism  was  hardly  known  in 
that  region ;  but  it  soon  began  to  make  an  impression 
through  the  travelling  preachers,  who,  in  their  regular  visits, 
proclaimed  the  Gospel  with  such  power  and  energy,  that 
many  became  awakened  and  began  to  cry  for  mercy.  These 
extraordinary  meetings,  attended  with  such  unusual  excite- 
ment, soon  aroused  the  prejudice  of  some,  and  the  alarm  of 
others,  until  stern  opposition  was  raised  against  the  new  doc- 
trine, as  they  called  it,  and  the  Methodist  preachers  were  de- 
nounced as  false  prophets.  Very  soon,  under  this  preaching, 
the  subject  of  this  memoir  evinced  considerable  seriousness 
and  concern  for  his  soul.  The  preacher  who  was  the  imme- 
diate instrument  of  his  conversion  has  been  heard  to  say,  that 
so  violent  was  the  opposition  he  had  to  encounter,  so  great  the 
embarrassments  thrown  in  his  way,  and  so  discouraging  the 
prospects  before  him,  that  if  he  could  succeed  in  getting  one 
soul  converted  to  God,  it  would  be  a  good  year's  work,  and 
would  amply  compensate  him  for  his  labour.    His  moderate 


408 


THE  HEROES  OF  METHODISM. 


wish  was  more  than  granted.  That  year  a  gracious  revival 
of  religion  occurred,  many  souls  were  converted,  and  among 
them  was  Jacob  Gruber,  then  between  ten  and  fifteen  years 
old.  The  precise  year  of  his  conversion  cannot  now  be  ascer- 
tained with  certainty.  His  consequent  connexion  with  the 
Methodists,  together  with  his  burning  zeal  for  the  cause  of 
God  and  the  salvation  of  souls,  so  exasperated  his  parents, 
that  after  all  their  eflforts  to  cure  him  of  his  Methodist  religion 
and  zeal  had  failed,  he  was  driven  from  home.  Some  time 
afterwards,  however,  but  how  long  is  not  known,  they  became 
so  far  reconciled  as  to  receive  him  back  again.  A  short  time 
after  this  he  was  apprenticed  to  learn  a  trade,  at  which  he 
worked  for  several  years,  enduring  great  hardship  and  neg- 
lect. The  bad  treatment  he  received  becoming  knowm  to  his 
father,  (though  Jacob  never  mentioned  it,  nor  complained  of 
it  himself,)  he  immediately  went  after  him,  demanded  his 
indentures,  and  took  him  home.  During  all  this  time,  and 
amid  all  these  discouragements,  our  youthful  Christian  contin- 
ued faithful  to  his  God.  By  the  advice  of  his  father,  he  de- 
termined to  remain  at  home  and  work  at  his  trade,  which  he 
had  not  quite  completed.  For  this  purpose  a  small  shop 
was  erected,  and  tools  and  materials  were  procured ;  but  how 
long  he  remained  thus  employed  is  not  definitely  known. 

"  During  this  whole  time  his  religious  zeal  and  faithfulness 
knew  no  abatement.'  He  had  been  appointed  class-leader 
and  licensed  to  exhort.  As  a  leader  he  was  eflBcient  and 
useful ;  and  his  labours  and  exhortations  in  prayer-meetings 
were  so  greatly  blessed,  that  many  were  awakened  and  con- 
verted through  his  instrumentality.  This  again  produced 
such  reliofious  excitement  in  the  neisrhbourhood,  and  was  so 
offensive  to  the  orderly  notions  of  the  professedly  religious, 
and  withal  excited  such  alarm  for  the  safety  of  their  children 
and  the  Church,  that  the  opposition  of  his  parents  was  once 
more  aroused,  and  to  a  higher  degree  than  before.  With 
the  hope  of  extinguishing  this  wild-fire^  as  they  called  it,  and 
of  arresting  and  subduing  this  dangerous  delusion,  as  they 


JACOB  GRUBER. 


400 


imagined  it  to  be,  Jacob  was  peremptorily  and  finally  driven 
from  their  home;  for  sooner  than  abandon  his  religion  and 
offend  his  God,  lie  was  willing  to  part  with  all  the  endear- 
ments of  home  and  parents,  believing  with  the  Psalmist, 
"  When  my  fiither  and  mother  forsake  me,  then  the  Lord 
will  take  me  up ;"  and  in  his  case  this  was  most  literally  and 
strikingly  fulfilled.  Pressed  to  the  necessity  of  making  his 
election  between  an  abandonment  of  his  religion  or  his  home, 
he  willingly  and  cheerfully  chose  the  latter ;  and,  with  great 
Christian,  firmness,  prepared  to  carry  it  into  effect.  With  his 
clothes  in  a  knapsack  on  his  back,  he  started  on  foot  for  the 
town  of  Lancaster.  On  his  way,  he  was  providentially  met 
by  a  Methodist  preacher,  perhaps  a  presiding  elder,  who,  after 
a  short  conversation,  advised  him  to  commence  calling  sinnei*s 
to  repentance  in  a  larger  field  than  heretofore ;  and  urged 
him  to  fill  a  vacancy  which  had  occurred  on  an  adjoining 
circuit,  perhaps  by  the  death  of  one  of  the  preachers.  He 
consented,  and  immediately  investing  nearly  all  the  money 
he  had  in  the  purchase  of  a  horse  and  equipage,  went  di- 
rectly to  the  circuit  referred  to,  and  laboured  there  until  con- 
ference, which  came  on  soon  after,  when  he  was  admitted 
into  the  ministry  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  in  the 
spring  of  1800,  and  appointed  to  Tioga  Circuit. 

"  Though  young  and  inexperienced,  being  only  a  little  over 
twenty-two  years  of  age,  he  preached,  and  prayed,  and  suf- 
fered with  all  the  zeal  and  stability  of  a  veteran,  and  thus 
early  formed  those  habits  of  industry,  economy,  sobriety, 
and  abstemiousness  for  which  he  was  ever  after  distinguished. 
The  privations  and  hardships  of  early  life,  with  the  blessing 
of  God,  effectually  trained  him  for  the  arduous  work  of  a 
Methodist  itinerant.  So  faithful  and  useful  were  his  labours 
wherever  he  went,  that  he  soon  rose  to  an  honourable  height 
in  the  confidence  and  affections  of  the  bishops  and  his  seni- 
ors in  the  ministry ;  as  proof  of  which  he  was  put  into  offices 
of  great  responsibility  at  a  very  early  age.  He  had  only 
finished  his  sixth  year  in  the  ministry,  being  just  twenty- 


410 


THE  HEROES  OF  METHODISM, 


eight  years  old,  when  he  received  his  appointment  from 
Bishop  Asbury  as  presiding  elder  of  Greenbrier  district, 
Virginia. 

"His  different  fields  of  labour,  their  great  extent,  <tc.,  will 
be  seen  by  the  following  statement  of  the  circuits,  stations, 
and  districts  to  which  he  was  appointed  during  the  fifty 
years  of  his  ministry.  By  carefully  examining  the  '  Minutes,' 
it  appears  that  some  of  his  circuits  were  as  large  as  some 
districts  are  now,  and  the  districts  which  he  travelled  were, 
in  extent,  equal  to,  if  not  larger  than  some  entire  conferences 
at  the  present  time.  In  the  year  1800  he  travelled  Tioga 
circuit;  1801,  Oneida  and  Cayuga;  1802-3,  Dauphin  ;  1804, 
Carlisle;  1 805, Winchester ;  1806, Rockingham  ;  1807-1809, 
presiding  elder  on  Greenbrier  District;  1810-1813,  pre- 
siding elder  on  Monongahela  District;  1814,  Baltimore 
City  station;  1815-1818,  presiding  elder  on  Carlisle  Dis- 
trict ;  1819,  Frederick  ;  1820  and  1821,  Dauphin  circuit,  Phil- 
adelphia Conference.  Some  time  during  the  first  of  these 
two  years  he  was  married  to  Miss  Sally  Howard,  of  Frede- 
rick county,  Md.  This  he  accomplished  during  his  rest-week^ 
as  he  called  it,  so  that  he  lost  no  aj^pointment,  but  was 
married  and  returned  to  his  circuit  again  in  time  for  the 
Sabbath  work;  1822-3,  on  Bristol  circuit;  1824,  Lancaster; 
1825,  Burlington;  1826-7,  Chester;  1828,  stationed  at  St. 
George's,  city  of  Philadelphia  ;  1829,  Gloucester;  1830,  Sa- 
lem ;  1831-2,  Waynesburg ;  1833,  Port  Deposite.  In  1834, 
because  of  the  ill  health  and  enfeebled  condition  of  his  wife, 
he  was  transferred  back  again  to  the  Baltimore  Conference, 
and  stationed  at  Sharp-street  and  Asbury,  Baltimore  City. 
During  this  year  Mrs.  Gruber  died  in  great  peace,  and  was 
buried  in  the  old  family  burial  ground  in  Frederick  county, 
Md.  In  1835,  he  was  reappointed  to  Sharp-street  and 
Asbury;  1836,  Ebenezer  station,  Washington  City ;  1837, 
Carlisle  circuit.  At  the  close  of  this  year  he  was  married  to 
Mrs.  Rachel  Martin,  of  Lewistown,  Pa.;  1838-9,  stationed 
at  Sharp-street  and  Asbury,  Baltimore  ;  1840-41,  Lewistown 


JACOB  GRUBER. 


411 


circuit;  1842-3,  Mifflin;  1844,  Trough  Creek;  1845,  War- 
rior's Mark;  1846,  Shirleysburg ;  1847,  East  Bedford,  but 
was  changed  by  the  presiding  elder  to  Huntingdon  circuit, 
which  he  travelled  during  the  year;  1848-9,  Lewistown 
circuit.  Unable  to  attend  the  last  conference,  March,  1850, 
by  reason  of  affliction,  he  addressed  a  letter  to  one  of  his 
biethren.  Rev.  S.  V.  Blake,  in  which  he  took  an  affectionate 
leave  of  the  conference,  and  asked  that  a  superannuated 
relation  might  be  assigned  him  for  one  year,  thus  allowing 
him  to  have  his  jubilee,  after  fifty  years  of  toil.  The  confer- 
ence complied  with  his  request,  and  also  directed  the  secretary 
to  address  him  a  letter  expressive  of  their  affection  and 
sympathy.  During  the  whole  of  his  half  century  of  itinerant 
labour  there  was  not  a  gap  or  intermission  of  four  consecu- 
tive weeks  for  any  cause  whatever.  This  is  a  remarkable 
fact,  and  worthy  of  record,  as  it  so  seldom  occurs,  even 
arnong  the  healthiest  and  strongest  of  ministers.  His  work 
was  divided  as  follows:  thirty-two  years  he  spent  on 
circuits,  seven  in  stations,  and  eleven  as  presiding  elder  on 
three  different  districts. 

"  After  finishing  his  work  on  Lewistown  circuit,  (and  he 
worked  up  to  the  last  Sabbath  in  February,  without  any 
abridgment  of  duties,)  he  started  with  his  wife  for  Baltimore 
city,  hoping  to  reach  the  conference,  which  sat  in  Alexan- 
dria, Va.  Passing  through  Carlisle,  he  preached  his  last 
sermon  in  that  place  on  Sabbath  night,  March  3,  though 
with  great  suffering,  as  he  was  much  indisposed.  He  reached 
Baltimore  in  a  few  days,  but  his  pain  was  extreme,  for  violent 
inflammation  had  seized  his  right  foot,  which,  to  the  skillful 
eye  of  his  physician,  soon  developed  the  fearful  fact  that 
saline  mortification  or  Poifs  gangrene,  had  become  estab- 
lished. At  the  instance  of  his  medical  adviser,  he  hastened 
home  to  his  residence  in  Lewistown — a  sufferer  indeed. 

"The  best  medical  advice  within  reach  was  immediately 
procured,  and  all  was  done  that  skill,  medicine,  and  atten- 
tion could  do  to  arrest  the  progress  of  this  terrible  disease, 

18* 


412 


THE  HEROES  OF  METHODISM. 


but  in  vain,  lliough  bis  vigorous  constitution,  the  skill  of 
his  physicians,  and  the  constant  attentions  of  his  wife  and 
friends,  did  much  to  delay  the  crisis,  and  lengthen  out  his 
days,  yet,  after  his  sufferings  had  been  protracted  for  nearly 
three  months,  disease  gained  the  master}',  his  strength  gave 
way,  and  he  sunk  to  rally  no  more.  Unaccustomed  to 
affliction  for  more  than  threescore  years,  it  was  a  most  painful 
trial  to  him  to  be  confined  to  a  couch  and  tortured  in  body. 
He  often  said  it  was  a  new,  strange,  and  mysterious  lesson 
he  had  to  learn.  At  first,  with  painful  days  and  restless 
nights,  his  patience  and  fortitude  were  taxed  to  their  utmost 
capacity.  It  was  difficult  for  him  to  reconcile  his  present 
sufiering  with  his  past  long  life  of  labour,  activity,  and  health. 
But  as  grace  was  needed,  it  was  kindly  bestowed ;  and 
sweetly  was  he  mellowed  down  into  true  Christian  resigna- 
tion. Now  he  began  to  perceive  that  having  finished  his 
work,  and  through  a  long  life  having,  to  the  best  of  his  ability, 
done  the  will  of  God,  all  that  remained  was  to  suflfer  his  will. 

"His  affliction  had  a  most  happy  influence  upon  his 
heart  and  feelings ;  they  became  so  tender,  humble,  simple, 
pure,  and  holy,  as  to  indicate  clearly  that  his  Heavenly 
Father  was  just  finishing  the  work  preparatory  to  his  recep- 
tion to  glory.  He  punctually  attended  to  his  religious 
duties  and  devotions  during  the  whole  period  of  his  confine- 
ment until  within  two  days  of  his  death,  and,  being  generally 
able  to  kneel,  officiated  in  turn  with  his  wife  at  family 
worship.  So  fixed  were  his  habits  of  devotion,  so  great  his 
love  for  the  privileges  of  the  sanctuary,  and  the  public  as 
well  as  private  means  of  grace,  that  he  would  not  consent  to 
remain  at  home  on  the  Sabbath,  but  was  carried  to  the 
church  by  his  brethren  in  a  chair  or  on  a  bench,  that  he 
might  hear  the  word  of  God  and  be  comforted,  if  he  could 
no  longer  preach  it  himself.  This  he  continued  to  do  up  to 
the  Sabbath  before  his  death.  The  last  Sabbath  he  spent 
on  earth,  he  was  in  the  house  of  the  Lord,  morning  and 
evening,  and  listening  to  a  discourse  delivered  by  the 


JACOB  GHViiKR. 


413 


preacher  of  the  station  from  a,  text  wliich  he  himself  had 
selected,  viz.:  1  Pet.  v,  10,  11,  'But  the  God  of  all  grace, 
■who  hath  called  us  unto  his  eternal  glory  by  Christ  Jesus, 
after  that  ye  have  suffered  awhile,  make  you  perfect,  stablish, 
strengthen,  and  settle  you.  To  him  be  glory  and  dominion 
forever  and  ever.  Amen.'  This  day  he  seemed  to  enjoy 
himself  more  than  usual  during  the  public  worship,  having 
less  pain  to  distress  him.  It  was  very  gratifying  to  see  how 
God  was  graciously  answering  prayer  in  his  behalf,  and  was 
gradually  softening  the  violence  of  his  disease,  and  kindly 
and  gently  smoothing  his  pillow  as  the  eventful  moment  ap- 
pi-oached. 

"Not  allowing  himself  to  indulge  any  certain  hope  that 
his  disease  could  be  removed,  he  hastened  to  adjust  his 
temporary  affairs.  In  the  disposition  of  his  property  by 
will,  the  aged  and  worn-out  preachers,  the  widows  and 
orphans  of  those  who  have  died  in  the  work,  and  the  mis- 
sionary cause,  are  beneficiaries.  A  real  and  genuine  friend 
to  all  that  was  good,  he  showed  himself  true  to  the  last. 

"  He  was  taken  suddenly  worse  on  the  evening  of  the  23d 
of  May,  having  several  attacks  of  fainting  or  swooning :  and 
no  doubt  the  work  of  death  began  at  that  time,  as  he 
gradually  grew  weaker  and  weaker  until,  forty-eight  hours 
afterward,  the  scene  closed.  It  was  a  matter  of  regret  to 
me  that  my  appointments  required  me  to  leave  on  the 
morning  of  the  24th,  and  I  was  thereby  deprived  of  the 
privilege  of  being  with  him  in  his  last  hours.  His  attentive 
neighbour.  Rev.  S.  V.  Blake,  however,  had  the  mournful 
satisfaction  of  ministering  to  him  even  to  the  last,  and  his 
unwearied  devotion  to  the  bedside  of  the  venerable  man  is 
worthy  of  all  commendation.  From  him  I  have  learned  the 
particulars  connected  with  the  closing  scene.  Brother  Gruber 
was  perfectly  conscious  that  his  end  was  rapidly  approaching, 
and  he  sighed  for  the  happy  release.  He  requested  Brother 
Blake,  if  it  could  be  ascertained  wj;ien  he  was  about  to  die, 
vo  collect  a  few  brethren  and  sisters  around  him,  that  they 


414 


THE  HEROES  OF  METHODISM. 


might  (to  use  his  own  words)  *  see  me  safe  off ;  and  as  I  am 
going,  all  join  in  full  chorus  and  sing,  On  Jordan's  stormy 
banks  I  stand,'  <fec.  A  few  hours  before  he  died  he  asked 
Brother  B.  whether  he  could  stand  it  another  night ;  and  was 
answered,  that  in  his  judgment  he  could  not.  'Then,'  said 
he,  '  to-morrow  I  shall  spend  my  first  Sabbath  in  heaven ! 
Last  Sabbath  in  the  Church  on  earth — next  Sabbath  in  the 
Church  above!'  and  with  evident  emotion  repeated,  '  Where 
congregations  ne'er  break  up,  and  Sabbaths  never  end  I' 
Brother  B.  perceiving  that  he  was  fast  sinking,  and  could  only 
survive  a  few  moments,  asked  him  if  he  felt  that  he  was  even 
then  on  the  banks  of  Jordan  ?  to  which  he  rephed,  with 
great  efi"ort,  and  these  were  his  last  words,  'I  feel  I  am.' 
He  was  exhorted  to  trust  in  Jesus,  and  not  to  be  afraid, 
but  to  look  out  for  the  light  of  heaven,  his  happy  home ; 
and  then,  in  accordance  with  his  request,  the  hymn  he  had 
selected  was  sung,  but  ere  it  was  concluded  his  conscious- 
ness was  gone.  The  singing  ceased,  a  death-like  stillness 
reigned,  only  broken  by  his  occasional  respiration,  and  an 
overwhelming  sense  of  the  presence  of  God  melted  every 
heart.  A  minute  more,  and  his  happy  spirit  winged  its  way 
to  its  long-sought  rest  without  a  struggle  or  a  groan — so 
calmly,  so  peacefully  did  he  fall  asleep  in  the  arms  of  Jesus. 
O  !  it  was  a  privilege  to  be  there.  To  see  so  aged  a  servant 
of  God  finish  his  course  with  such  confidence,  such  compo- 
sure, such  firmness,  such  blessed  hope  of  glory  beaming  from 
his  countenance,  was  a  privilege  indeed,  the  grandeur  of 
which  we  will  not  attempt  to  describe. 

"  Thus  has  fallen  one  of  the  oldest  and  most  faithful  min- 
isters of  Christ,  aged  72  years,  3  months,  and  22  days. 

"  He  shared  the  sympathy  of  the  whole  community  during 
his  afl^iction,  and  marked  respect  was  paid  to  him  and  his 
family  at  the  interment.  Brother  Blake  conducted  the 
funeral  services,  and  delivered  a  discourse  founded  on  Matt. 
XXV,  21,  in  the  M.  E.  Church,  to  a  large  concourse  of  all  denom- 
inations, and  citizens  in  general,  after  which  the  body  was 


JACOB  GRUBER. 


415 


committed  to  the  earth,  to  sleep  there  till  the  resurrection 
morning.  Subsequently  the  association  of  preachers  for 
Huntingdon  District,  passed  resolutions  expressive  of  their 
high  regard  for  his  character,  and  similar  proceedings  were 
had  in  the  preachers'  meeting  at  Baltimore  City,  in  the 
convention  of  stewards  for  this  district,  and  in  the  Quarterly 
Conference  of  Lewistown  and  Mifflin  circuits. 

"  Brother  Gruber  was,  in  many  respects,  an  extraordinary 
man.  In  his  character  there  was  a  rare  combination  of  traits. 
Some  of  the  harsher  and  more  uupleasant  of  these  were  fre- 
quently most  prominent,  and,  to  the  superficial  observer,  they 
were  made  the  standard  by  which  his  whole  character  was 
judged.  By  such  a  rule,  however,  great  injustice  has  been 
done  him,  for  in  this  way  should  no  man's  character  be 
measured.  All  the  diflferent  traits  should  be  taken  together, 
all  the  features  should  be  viewed  at  the  same  time,  and  a  just 
and  righteous  balance  struck,  or  the  decision  will  be  partial, 
the  judgment  inaccurate,  and  the  portrait  will  fail  to  be  an 
exact  resemblance  of  the  original. 

"  There  existed  in  him  a  very  unusual  combination  of 
severity  and  lenity.  Faults  in  professors  of  religion  he  never 
spared,  but  felt  himself  bound,  as  a  faithful  watchman,  to 
reprove ;  and  this  he  did,  sometimes,  with  withering  sar- 
casm, and  always  with  great  severity  and  sharpness.  Ap- 
parently he  seemed  to  select  such  opportunities,  and  such 
language,  as  would  make  the  deepest  impression  and  inflict 
the  greatest  torture.  But  under  this  apparent  harshness 
(which  is  attributable,  in  a  great  measure,  to  the  rigid  dis- 
cipline under  which  he  received  his  early  training)  there 
was  an  inexhaustible  vein  of  lenity  and  kindly  feelings. 
Though  he  always  used  a  sharp  instrument  in  probing  the 
wound,  and  did  not  always  use  it  with  a  steady  and  tender 
hand,  yet  so  soon  as  the  true  signs  of  contrition,  convales- 
cence, and  amendment  were  discovered,  he  had  always  a 
healing  balsam  to  apply.  And  if  some  might  suppose  that 
bis  harshness  and  severity  were  excessive,  others,  having  an 


416 


THE  HEROES  OF  METHODISM. 


equal  opportunity  of  judging,  might  decide  that  his  lenity 
and  kindness  were  equally  excessive.  In  all  cases,  however, 
whether  of  severity  or  lenity,  it  cannot  be  doubted  that  his 
motives  were  always  pure. 

"  In  him  rigid  economy  and  great  liberality  were  strangely 
blended.  This  was  another  of  his  peculiarities;  but  the 
combination  was  often  overlooked,  from  the  fact,  that  while 
his  economy  was  always  visible  and  notorious,  his  liberality 
was  generally  silent,  modest,  and  unostentatious.  He  never 
allowed  himself  to  indulge  in  luxury,  nor  gave  any  counte- 
nance to  superfluity.  He  permitted  nothing  to  be  wasted, 
no  needless  expense  to  be  incurred,  and  saved  everything 
that  could  be  turned  to  good  account.  In  dress,  in  diet,  in 
the  transaction  of  business,  in  the  management  of  his  cir- 
cuit or  station,  the  same  rules  governed  him.  His  rigid  ad- 
herence thereto  has,  in  the  estimation  of  some,  fixed  upon 
him  the  reputation  of  being  parsimonious.  But  they  did  not 
know  him.  His  benedictions  may  be  said  to  have  been 
munificent — for  he  has  given  away  to  needy  individuals,  to- 
wards the  erection  of  churches,  to  literary  institutions,  and 
by  his  last  will  has  bequeathed,  for  the  benefit  of  worn  out 
travelling  preachers,  widows,  and  orphans,  and  ultimately  to 
the  missionary  cause,  sums  making  in  the  aggregate  a  larger 
amount  than  is  often  contributed  by  men  of  his  means.  The 
excellency  of  his  course,  as  he  himself  has  often  remarked, 
is  seen  in  this  ;  the  great  objects  which  he  kept  steadily  in 
view  by  the  rigid  economy  of  his  life  were,  first,  to  set  a 
good  example  before  his  brethren  and  the  younger  preach- 
ers, who,  he  feared,  were  becoming  too  extravagant  and 
prodigal ;  and,  secondly,  that  thereby  he  might  be  able  to 
give  the  more  to  all  benevolent  objects.  Thus  his  economy 
became  the  means  of  his  liberality,  and  fully  acquits  him 
from  the  charge  of  parsimoniousness.  If  he  carried  his 
economy  to  an  extreme,  as  some  supposed,  which,  however, 
is  very  doubtful ;  yet  the  fault  was  not  only  fully  covered, 
but  overbalanced,  by  the  good  use  he  made  of  it.    If  any 


JACOB  GBUBEK. 


41Y 


benevolent  enterprise  was  started  by  the  Church  in  the  place 
of  his  residence,  or  its  vicinity,  the  first  application  was  gen- 
erally made  to  brother  and  sister  Gruber,  that  they  might 
head  the  list,  and  by  their  liberality  stimulate  others.  And 
this  they  but  seldom  failed  to  do,  and  never  when  the  neces- 
sity and  propriety  of  the  measure  were  beyond  doubt. 

"  He  was  a  man  of  untiring  energy  and  industry.  His 
energy  was  kindled,  his  principles  moulded,  and  his  habits 
formed,  in  the  school  of  early  Methodism  in  this  country, 
and  after  the  model  of  some  of  the  most  useful  and  efficient 
Methodist  preachers.  Nay,  like  St.  Paul,  he  could  say,  that 
he  was  *  in  labours  more  abundant.*  He  performed  more 
work,  preached  more  sermons,  endured  more  fatigue  and 
hardship,  with  less  abatement  of  mental  and  physical  ener- 
gy, than  perhaps,  any  other  minister  of  his  times.  Indeed, 
the  steady  and  glowing  flame  of  his  zeal  and  industry  was 
never  quenched  until  extinguished  by  death.  He  knew  no 
cessation,  nor  even  abridgment  of  labour,  until  just  three 
months  before  his  departure,  and  only  then  when  arrested  by 
disease.    Truly  he  '  ceased  at  once  to  work  and  live.' 

"  He  possessed  a  strong  and  vigorous  mind,  which  gene- 
rally exhibited  itself  as  well  in  conversation  as  in  his  sermons. 
Had  he  been  favoured  with  a  thorough  education,  there  is 
reason  to  believe  that  he  would  have  been  surpassed  by  few. 
He  displayed  an  originality  of  thought,  a  sharpness  and 
readiness  of  wit,  an  aptness  of  illustration,  together  with  a 
flow  of  cheerfulness,  which  made  him  an  interesting  and  in- 
structive companion.  The  vigour  of  his  mind,  which  seem- 
ed to  ripen  and  mature  with  his  years,  evinced  none  of  that 
infirmity  which  was  stealing  upon  his  body,  and  displayed 
no  diminution  of  strength  up  to  the  last  hour  of  his  earthly 
existence. 

"  He  was  a  sound  theologian.  None  will  charge  him 
with  a  want  of  orthodoxy.  Thoroughly  posted  up  in  the  doc- 
trines of  Methodism,  from  the  works  of  Wesley,  and  catch- 
ing the  living  inspiration  from  the  lips  of  Asbury,  Whateoat, 


418 


THE  HEROES  OF  METHODISM. 


M'Kendree,  and  others,  these  doctrines  became  to  him  that 
system  of  divinity  most  in  accordance  with  the  Holy  Scrip- 
tures. Nor  was  he  unacquainted  with  the  doctrines  and 
usages  of  other  denominations,  as  laid  down  in  their  books. 
His  sermons  gave  unmistakable  evidence  of  this,  when  he 
felt  it  to  be  his  duty  to  come  in  contact  with  them.  As  a 
preacher,  his  pulpit  discourses  were  always  good,  and  some- 
times almost  overwhelming.  Generally,  he  took  a  sound 
and  correct  view  of  Scripture,  pursued  his  own  course  in  its 
exposition,  and  preached  with  great  zeal  and  energy,  and 
often  with  considerable  effect  In  exposing  false  doctrine, 
and  unmasking  false  rehgion,  he  was  quite  caustic,  and  fre- 
quently successful. 

"  But  Jacob  Gruber  is  gone,  and  his  voice  is  silent  in 
death.  Yet  his  name  and  his  deeds  still  live.  Thousands 
now  living  on  earth  will  remember  him  with  gratitude ; 
while  thousands  more  have  already  welcomed  him  to  the 
mansions  of  rest ;  and,  beyond  all  doubt,  many  will  rise  up 
in  the  judgment,  and  call  him  blessed." 

The  following  statement  received  from  an  old  minister, 
who  does  not  allow  me  to  mention  his  name,  shows  that  the 
opposition  of  Mr.  Gruber's  parents,  mentioned  in  Mr.  Mon- 
roe's sketch,  must  have  entirely  vanished  in  the  course  of 
years : 

"About  the  year  1830,  I  travelled  Bristol  circuit,  which 
reached  up  to  '  Haycock  Mountain,'  where  the  Grubers  lived, 
.and  where  Jacob  was  born  and  spent  the  days  of  his  child- 
hood and  youth.  Here  lived  his  brothers  Peter  and  John,  and 
his  mother  resided  with  a  sister,  who  was  married.  The  father 
died  some  years  before.  The  mother  died  in  1832,  from  old 
age,  not  disease.  '  The  weary  wheels  of  life  stood  still.' 
Her  death  was  triumphant.  The  children  were  all  members 
of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  Peter  w^as  a  class-lead- 
er, John  only  a  private  member.  We  preached  every  two 
weeks  at  Peter's  on  a  week  night.  He  lived  in  a  large  stone 
house,  having  a  grist-mill  under  the  same  roof.    We  used 


JACOB  GRUBER.  419 

to  go  through  the  mill  to  bed  when  we  lodged  there.  It 
was  said  that  Peter  was  the  richest  man  in  the  township, 
and  yet  he  and  his  wife,  worked  harder  than  any  southern 
slaves. 


GRUBER'S  CONVERSION  AND  ENTRANCE  UPON  THE 
WORK  OF  THE  MINISTRY. 

"In  1791  the  Methodist  preachers  came  into  my  father's 
neighbourhood.  G.  Bailey  and  J.  Lovell  were  the  first  we 
heard.  Many  strange  things  were  said  about  them ;  some 
were  afraid  of  them,  called  them  false  prophets,  and  other  bad 
names ;  but  many  went  to  hear  them,  and  some  got  awakened. 
In  1792,  S.  Miller  and  J.  Robinson  preached  for  us,  and  a 
class  was  formed.  Father  and  mother,  and  a  dozen  more 
joined ;  so  did  I,  though  only  a  schoolboy.  I  got  little  or 
no  schooling  after  I  was  twelve  years  old ;  father  had  other 
work  for  rae  to  do.  Under  deep  conviction  I  went  from 
meeting  to  my  closet,  sought  the  Lord  early  and  diligently, 
and  found  peace  and  comfort  to  my  soul.  We  had  good 
meetings.  The  Lord  was  with  us.  But  the  next  year  my 
father  was  ill  treated  by  one  of  the  preachers,  got  prejudiced 
against  the  Methodists,  and  ordei-ed  me  otf  to  hunt  a  master 
and  learn  a  trade.  I  went  to  Lancaster  county,  was  bound 
apprentice,  served  out  about  half  my  time;  was  not  well 
used ;  was  taken  sick.  In  the  meantime  my  father  got 
among  the  Methodists  again,  and  very  kindly  came  and  took 
ine  home,  built  me  a  shop  to  get  my  trade  complete,  and  go 
to  work  and  make  my  fortune,  as  it  was  called.  We  had 
regular  meetings  and  a  revival.    My  brother  and  others 


420 


THE  HEROES  OF  METHODISM. 


were  powerfully  converted.  We  had  wonderful  meetings. 
The  cries  of  mourners,  and  shouts  of  converts,  were  painful 
to  some  whose  heads  were  softer  than  their  hearts.  Some 
were  offended,  persecution  arose,  many  false  reports  about 
our  meetings ;  and,  as  I  was  leader  and  had  licence  to  ex- 
hort, much  blame  fell  on  me.  Some  neighbours,  who  were 
enemies  to  the  Methodists,  brought  the  evil  reports  they  had 
heard  or  dreamed  to  my  father,  and  set  him  against  his 
family  and  the  Methodists,  and  as  I  was  a  ringleader,  as 
some  said,  there  were  no  quarters  for  me ;  so  I  was  driven 
away,  left  father  and  mother,  brothers  and  sisters,  shop  and 
tools,  all  behind,  took  my  clothes  in  a  wallet,  (fee.  I  found 
friends  who  knew  my  situation  and  the  exercise  of  my  mind. 
They  said  Providence  opened  my  way  to  travel.  They 
recommended  me  to  the  Philadelphia  Annual  Conference. 
Some  of  the  preachers  encouraged  me.  One  said  I  would 
kill  myself  in  six  months ;  another  said  one  month  would 
end  my  labour,  the  way  I  exposed  myself.  I  had  goi  a 
low-priced  white  horse.  One  of  the  preachers,  who  knew 
how  I  got  out,  said  to  me,  *  Well,  you  have  got  on  the 
"Pale  Horse,"  death  and  hell  will  follow  you,  only  take 
care  and  don't  let  them  get  before  you.'  So  I  had  some 
comforters.  My  thoughts  were,  perhaps  they  would  send  me 
into  Delaware,  a  sickly  country,  to  finish  my  work  in  a  year, 
and  then  go  to  my  long  home.  But  instead  of  going  down 
I  had  to  go  up — up  rivers  and  mountains,  and  take  my  de- 
grees among  lakes  and  rivers,  and  Indians,  for  two  years. 

"  A  mysterious  Providence  brought  me  into  the  travelling 
connexion.  I  was  not  a  volunteer ;  I  was  pressed  into  the 
ranks.  I  never  applied  for  licence  to  exhort,  nor  to  preach, 
nor  for  a  recommendation  to  conference.  My  friends  did  all 
that  for  me.  A  gracious  Providence  has  '  my  life  sustained, 
and  all  my  wants  supplied.'  Hitherto  *  the  Lord  hath  helped 
me,'  '  and  I  hope,  by  his  good  pleasure,  safely  to  arrive  at 
home;'  but  not  till  my  work  is  done." — J.  Gruber. 


JACOB  GRUBER. 


421 


GRUBER'S  ACCOUNT  OF  HIS  FIRST  TWO  YEARS  IN 
THE  ITINERANT  MINISTRY. 

"  In  reading  some  pieces  about  old  times,  I  thought  I  would 
give  my  beginning.  In  1800  T  was  driven  from  my 
father's  house,  with  ray  all  in  a  wallet  on  my  shoulder. 
My  brethren  recommended  me  to  the  Philadelphia  Confer- 
ence. I  was  sent  to  Tioga  circuit — a  four  weeks'  circuit,  all 
alone.  It  was  a  large  circuit,  and  I  had  only  a  few  rest 
days  in  a  month.  The  lower  part  of  it  was  Wysock,  then 
Towanda,  Sugar  Creek;  the  point  up  the  Chemung  some 
distance ;  then  up  the  North  Branch,  above  the  Great  Bend, 
as  they  called  it.  We  had  good  meetings,  the  Lord  was 
with  us.  Being  young,  only  a  striphng,  I  requested,  and  the 
presiding  elder  brought  a  preacher  with  him  to  the  second 
quarterly  meeting  to  take  my  place.  The  stewards  paid 
me  my  expenses — between  four  and  five  dollars,  and  sixty- 
seven  cents  quarterage,  for  two  quarters.  Then  I  was  sent 
to  Herkimer  circuit,  with  Father  A.  Turk,  the  last  two  quar- 
ters of  the  year ;  in  which  time  we  took  in  Mohawk  circuit. 
Then  we  had  the  country  from  Jericho  to  near  the  head  of 
the  Mohawk  River,  in  a  six  weeks'  circuit,  for  three  preachers : 
we  had  good  and  great  times. 

"  I  was  told  there  was  no  need  of  me  at  the  conference, 
so  I  continued  in  the  work,  and  got  my  appointment  for  1801 
to  Cayuga  circuit,  with  J.  Newman.  This  year  was  full  of 
changes.  Oneida  was  added  to  Cayuga.  I  went  one  round 
on  Seneca  circuit,  which  included  the  country  between 
Cayuga  and  Seneca  Lake,  and  all  beyond  the  Genesee 
River. 

"The  last  quarter  I  was  on  Chenango  circuit.  We 
had  prosperous  times  this  year.  Persecutions  and  opposi- 
tions from  different  quarters — no  new  thing.  What  a 
change  since  that  time !  ^The  Albany  district  was  then  in 
the  Philadelphia  Conference.    In  two  years  I  travelled  all 


422 


THE  HEROES  OF  METHODISM. 


over  every  circuit,  from  Tioga  Point  to  the  head  of  the  North 
Branch ;  then  to  the  head  of  the  Mohawk  River,  from  Jeri- 
cho to  Cooperstown ;  then  to  Utica,  and  to  Rome ;  from 
Rome  to  Paris  ;  then  to  Geneva ;  and  then  to  Jerusalem,  and 
all  the  places  between.  The  people  were  kind,  and  treated 
me  better  than  I  deserved.  Here  ends  the  second  year's 
work  and  travels." — J.  Gruher. 

GBUBER'S  PERSONAL  HABITS. 

Mr.  Gruber  generally  rode  on  horseback,  as  the  old  itiner- 
ants all  did.  They  seemed  to  think  it  a  sin  to  ride  in  a 
carriage  or  in  any  other  way  than  on  the  animal's  back. 
He  was  the  very  personification  of  neatness,  as  well  as  plain- 
ness. He  generally  wore  a  drab  hat,  and  a  gray  suit,  of 
quakerish  cut.  He  was  very  eccentric,  and  remarkably  sar- 
castic. His  conduct  was  marked  by  not  a  few  singular 
whims.  He  could  not  endure  cats,  dogs,  tobacco,  tea,  cof- 
fee, canes,  veils,  or  any  superfluities  whatever.  He  consider- 
ed them  evil,  only  evil,  and  that  continually ;  and  he  de- 
nounced them  in  no  measured  terms,  and  his  practice  was 
in  perfect  accordance  with  his  preaching. 

His  aversion  to  dogs  amounted  almost  to  a  monomania ;  he 
would  expel  them  without  mercy,  from  the  house,  the  yard,  or 
the  high  road,  whenever  they  came  in  his  w^ay.  It  is  said,  even, 
that  he  once  stopped  a  funeral  procession  and  got  out  of  his 
carriage,  in  order  to  drive  away  some  dogs  who  were  follow- 
ing the  mourners.  After  attacking  the  dogs  lustily  and  suc- 
cessfully, he  remounted  the  carriage,  and  allowed  the  pro- 
cession to  go  on. 

During  the  session  of  a  conference  in  Philadelphia,  he 
preached  at  the  Union  Church,  from  Matt,  ix,  10 :  "  Provide 
neither  gold,  <fec.,  nor  yet  stow.§,"  <&rc.,  and  he  said,  "  with- 
out canes  V  "  And  were  you  not  in  danger  of  falling  down 
without  them  ?"  Some  of  the  preachers  had  procured  ivory- 
headed,  and  others  silver-headed  canes,  and  he  wished  to 


JACOB  GRUBER. 


423 


express  bis  strong  disapprobation  of  tbe  practice.  Tbere  was 
sometbing  so  quizzical  in  his  countenance,  tbat  tbe  preacbers 
were  ready  to  smile  in  advance,  before  anything  was  said, 
because  tbey  expected  sometbing,  and  were  not  disap- 
pointed. 

GRUBER  AND  THE  VEILS. 

In  preaching  at  a  certain  place  where  some  of  the  women 
were  in  tbe  practice  of  coming  in  rather  late,  he  said,  "  It 
was  no  wonder ;  tbey  were  doubly  blinded :  blinded  by  the 
God  of  this  world,  and  then  they  had  *  towels'  before  their 
faces,  poor  creatures,  how  could  tbey  see  ?" 

GRUBER'S  POWER  IN  PRAYER. 

Many  men  excel  in  preaching,  but  not  so  many  in  prayer. 
The  heroes  of  Methodism  were  distinguished  for  power  in 
preaching,  power  in  singing,  and  power  in  prayer.  There 
must  have  been  something  very  extraordinary  in  the  follow- 
ing prayer  for  Brother  Howe  to  remember  it  a  half  a  century : 
"In  May,  1800,  or  1801,  at  a  quarterly  meeting  on  old 
Delaware  circuit,  when  the  Rev.  William  M'Lenahan,  presid- 
ing elder,  and  Rev.  D.  Higby,  and  Jacob  Gruber,  were  circuit 
preachers,  we  bad  one  of  the  most  extraordinary  and  power- 
ful times  I  ever  saw.  It  seemed  to  resemble  tbe  day  of  Pen- 
tecost :  tbe  sermon  by  tbe  presiding  elder  was  very  power- 
ful :  under  the  prayer  by  Brother  Gruber,  the  barn  where  we 
were  assembled  was  shaken,  and  the  people  almost  instantly 
sprang  to  their  feet,  and  shouts  of  joy  and  cries  for  mercy 
filled  the  place,  and  many  fell  to  the  floor,  and  others  were 
filled  with  fear  and  fled.  It  was  a  glorious  time,  never  to  be 
forgotten.  We  returned  home  with  our  hearts  burning 
within  us,  like  the  two  disciples  who  went  to  Emmaus." — 
Rev,  Samuel  Howe. 


424  THE  HEROES  OF  METHODISM. 


GRUBER  AND  THE  DEVIL'S  FIRE-BRAND. 

Mr.  Gruber  was  a  great  enemy  to  tobacco,  whether  used  in 
chewing,  snuffing,  or  smoking.  When  he  travelled  Chester 
circuit,  Pennsylvania,  he  put  up  at  the  house  of  a  brother, 
whose  son,  in  order  to  be  courteous,  oflFered  him  a  segar. 
Mr.  Gruber  felt  indignant,  and  said :  "  "What  do  you  stick 
your  de\il's  fire-brands  at  me  for  ?" 

GRUBER'S  POSSESSIONS. 

Mr.  Gruber  was  once  riding  near  his  father's  house,  and 
pointed  out  to  his  first  wife  the  beautiful  farm  of  his  brothers. 
She  inquired,  "  My  dear,  where  is  yours  ?"  "  Here  it  is,"  said 
he,  "  the  road  on  which  we  are  travelling." 

No  foot  of  land  do  I  possess, 
No  cottage  in  the  wilderness. 

He  was  disinherited  when  he  joined  the  Methodists,  and 
expelled  from  his  father's  house,  but  "  when  his  father  and 
mother  forsook  him,  then  the  Lord  took  him  up."  After- 
ward, as  we  have  seen,  the  parents  were  reconciled,  united 
with  the  Methodists,  and  died  in  the  bosom  of  the  Church. — 
Eev.  G.  D.  Bowen. 

GRUBER  ON  EXTRAORDINARY  MANIFESTATIONS. 

"  At  a  meeting  on  Greenbrier  District,  Baltimore  Conference, 
in  1807,  we  had  the  common  shouting  exercise,  the  jumping 
exercise,  the  running  exercise,  the  dancing  exercise,  the  whirl- 
ing exercise,  the  pointing  exercise,  the  crying  exercise,  &c., 
&c.  When  any  ask  me  to  explain  all  these  antics  or  exer- 
cises, I  say  I  do  not  explain  what  I  do  not  understand. 
Many  who  had  these  exercises  did  not  understand  them — 
would  not  account  for  them.  I  am  not  called  to  analyze  or 
methodize  the  jerks :  have  no  tools  for  that  work.    At  one 


JACOB  GRUBER. 


425 


of  the  camp-meetings  in  Greenbrier,  thei'e  were  some  Pres- 
byterians with  tents.  In  one  of  them  there  was  much  pray- 
ing and  shouting.  I  asked  them  where  they  belonged. 
They  said, '  To  the  Presbyterians.'  I  said  to  them,  *  In  those 
places  they  would  not  own  you ;  you  make  too  much  noise. 
Who  is  your  preacher  V  They  said,  '  We  have  none ;  we 
hold  prayer-meetings,  and  meet  with  the  Methodists.  We 
have  some  occasional  suj^plies.'  I  was  told  a  young  minister 
came  '  hunting  a  call.'  He  preached  or  read  a  sermon,  and 
had  the  appearance  of  a  dandy.  One  of  their  elders  asked 
him  whether  he  had  ever  had  his  soul  converted.  His  tem- 
per rose,  and  he  said  he  was  sent  to  preach  to  them,  not  to 
be  examined  by  them.  They  told  him,  if  he  had  never  been 
converted,  they  did  not  want  him  to  preach  to  them :  so  he 
did  not  even  get  a  '  common  call.'  Poor  fellow,  he  would 
have  to  try  it  again  and  again. 

"  An  old  preacher  came  and  preached.  Some  in  the 
congregation  fell,  as  was  customary  then,  and  the  preacher 
fell  himself.  It  was  said,  after  he  got  up,  he  preached  like 
another  man.  When  he  got  back  to  his  congregation,  his 
preaching  was  so  different  from  what  it  had  been,  that  some 
got  alarmed,  and  made  inquiry  whether  he  had  turned  a 
*New  Light.'  He  replied.  No,  it  was  the  old  light,  but 
newly  snuflfed.  What  a  good  thing  it  would  be  to  have 
our  lamps  frequently  trimmed,  and  our  candles  snuffed! 
May  the  Lord  shine  away  all  our  darkness,  and  make  us  all 
light  in  him.    Yours  respectfully." — J.  Grtiber. 

GRUBER  LOST  AMONG  THE  MOUNTAINS. 

"  My  travels  among  the  Pendleton  and  Greenbrier  mount- 
ains were  hard  and  severe.  One  very  cold  night  in  the 
winter,  I  took  a  path  for  a  near  way  to  my  stopping-place, 
but  got  out  of  my  course,  wandered  about  among  the  hills 
and  mountains,  and  to  the  top  to  see  clearings,  or  hear  doga 
bark,  or  roosters  crow,  but  all  in  vain.   After  midnight  th« 


426 


THE  HEROES  OF  METHODISM. 


moon  arose.  I  could  then  see  my  track,  the  snow  being 
about  knee  deep.  I  went  back  till  I  got  into  the  right 
course,  and  reached  my  lodging  between  four  and  five  o'clock. 
The  family  were  alarmed,  and  said  I  was  late ;  but  I  called 
it  early.  Lay  down  and  slept  a  little,  got  up  for  break- 
fast, then  rode  part  of  the  day,  and  filled  two  appoint- 
ments. I  took  no  cold ;  the  Lord  supported  me,  and  gave 
me  strength  according  to  my  day  and  work.  Thank  him 
for  it. 

"  At  the  end  of  the  first  year  in  this  district,  I  had  a  chain 
of  appointments  through  Greenbrier  district  to  Baltimore 
Conference.  I  went  from  Tygart's  Valley  to  the  head  of 
Greenbrier,  a  wilderness  of  hills  and  mountains,  through 
which  there  was  only  a  path.  No  house  was  to  be  found 
for  more  than  twenty  miles.  On  one  occasion,  the  snow 
was  gone  into  the  valley ;  no  one  told  me  of  any  danger ;  I 
got  to  the  path  and  hills  about  ten  o'clock  ;  soon  found  snow 
near  knee  deep,  and  no  track.  It  began  to  rain  ;  got  to  Cheat 
River  about  two  o'clock ;  found  it  between  two  and  three 
feet  deep.  Half  way  across,  the  ice  was  too  hard  to  break. 
Got  on  it,  and  made  my  horse  do  the  same,  and  got  over. 
"Went  on ;  night  came  on ;  lost  the  path,  and  had  to  stop. 
It  began  to  snow  and  blow — a  cold  storm.  It  froze  hard ; 
had  to  sit  all  night  on  my  horse,  or  stand  by  his  side.  Heard 
panthers  scream,  and  other  beasts  howl.  It  was  a  long, 
painful  night.  I  thought  I  was  dreaming ;  but  found  it  a 
waking  and  frightful  reality.  When  light  came  I  found  my 
path  ;  got  to  the  Greenbrier  River  about  ten  o'clock ;  found 
it  like  Cheat  River,  the  day  before,  and  got  over  it  just  the 
same  way.  Got  to  a  friend's  house  about  eleven  o'clock. 
They  were  frightened  at  seeing  me,  for  no  one  had  come 
through  the  wilderness  by  the  path  through  the  winter ;  no 
one  would  have  ventured  who  knew  the  danger.  Neither  my 
horse  nor  I  had  eaten  anything  since  the  morning  before. 
Next  day  I  overtook  my  appointments ;  went  on,  filled  them 
all,  without  catching  cold ;  though  the  cold  caught  and  held 


JACOB  GRUBER. 


42Y 


me  fast  one  night  for  true.  Hitherto  has  the  Lord  helped 
me." — /.  G ruber. 

GRUBER'S  REPROOF  OF  PARENTAL  INDULGEfJCE. 

There  is  much  of  the  spirit  of  Eli  in  the  world — criminal 
parental  indulgence ;  especially  where  the  parents  have  risen 
from  poverty  to  wealth.  But  few  ministers  would  reprove 
with  the  fidelity  of  Jacob  Gruber;  and  if  they  did,  they  would 
probably  receive  as  few  thanks  as  himself 

"  In  one  of  the  circuits  I  found  a  local  preacher  who  had 
been  an  itinerant,  but  had  married,  settled  himself  quite  easy 
and  independent,  got  rich,  and  had  a  fine  family  ;  but  none 
of  his  children  had  religion.  On  a  Sunday  afternoon,  while 
fitting  with  liim  and  his  wife,  a  very  fine  young  man  and  a 
fine  young  lady  came  in.  The  preacher  introduced  them 
to  me  as  his  children.  After  a  friendly  conversation,  I  took 
upon  myself  to  be  master  of  ceremonies,  and  introduced  the 
father  to  the  son  after  this  manner  :  '■  This  is  your  father  ; 
he  is  a  plain  Methodist  preacher ;  he  is  trying  to  persuade 
all  to  come  to  Christ  for  salvation  :  the  young  to  seek  first 
the  kingdom  of  heaven,  and  children  to  honour  and  obey 
their  parents.  What  will  his  congregation  think  when  they 
look  at  you,  his  son,  his  oldest  son  ?  the  Lord  pity  you.' 
Then  I  spoke  to  the  father :  '  This  is  your  son,  this  fine,  gay, 
fashionable  young  man,  with  his  ruffles  and  nonsense  about 
him,  is  the  son  of  a  plain  Methodist  preacher.  What  will 
your  congregation  think  of  you  when  they  hear  you  preach, 
and  see  your  son  as  he  is  ?  Will  they  not  think  of  Eli,  the 
priest  V  This  was  amusing  to  the  fine  young  lady.  I  then 
turned  to  her,  and  said,  '  This  is  your  mother,  this  plain, 
old-fashioned  woman,  is  your  mother.  She  prays  for  you, 
is  trying  to  get  to  heaven,  and  will  probably  leave  you  be- 
hind, in  a  world  of  pride,  vanity,  and  folly.  Look  at 
her.  Who  that  looks  at  you  would  guess  that  you  were  re- 
lated to  her  V  I  then  spoke  to  her  mother :  '  This  is  your 
19 


428 


THE  HEROES  OF  METHODISM. 


daughter,  this  fine-looking  young  lady,  with  her  ruffles,  rings, 
curls,  locket,  and  silly  needle  ornaments  about  her.  Look 
at  her.  What  will  the  people  think  of  you  and  her  ?  You 
a  professor  of  religion,  and  a  preacher's  wife.  Some  will 
think,  that  though  you  are  plain  yourself,  you  love  to  see 
your  child  gay  and  fashionable ;  but  they  will  wonder  who 
buys  those  costly  toys  and  trinkets,  father  or  mother.  Others 
will  think  that  your  daughter  is  master  and  mistress  both, 
and  does  as  she  pleases.  But  some  will  fear  that,  with  her 
beau-catchers,  she  will  catch  a  fool  and  go  to  destruction. 
This  would  be  no  comfort,  or  credit  to  you  or  her.'  Here 
ended  the  introduction  ;  but  I  got  little  thanks  for  my  cere- 
mony, politeness,  and  plain-dealing.    Amen." — J.  Gruher. 

GRUBER  AND  FATHER  RICHARDS. 

"At  the  conference  in  1805,  held  in  Winchester,  Virginia, 
I  was  left  on  Winchester  circuit.  J.  Richards,  a  fine,  sensi- 
ble young  man,  was  my  colleague  for  two  quarters.  He  was 
then  taken  away  by  the  presiding  elder,  to  fill  a  station  from 
which  a  preacher  had  run  away,  to  be  a  parson  in  a  Protestant 
Episcopal  Church,  At  the  conference  the  character  of  J.  Rich- 
ards was  fair  and  good ;  he  had  a  very  young  though  serious  ap- 
pearance ;  and  one  of  the  old  preachers  said,  he  wished  '  that 
some  old  preachers  were  as  serious  and  solemn  as  that  young 
man.'  Bishop  Asbury  looked  pleasant,  and  said,  '  Do  you 
make  any  allowance  for  solids  and  fluids  ?'  The  young  man 
preached  very  nice  well-connected  sermons,  fifteen  or  twenty 
minutes  long.  He  was  very  studious.  Take  a  sample.  A 
man  asked  him  to  stop  and  dine  at  his  house,  being  on  his 
way  to  his  afternoon  meeting.  He  stopped,  the  man  took 
him  into  the  house,  left  him  in  a  room,  and  went  to  feed  his 
horse.  On  coming  back  to  the  house,  he  met  the  young 
preacher  coming  out,  with  his  saddle-bags  on  his  arm,  and 
asking  for  his  horse.  '  Why,'  said  the  man,  '  Mr.  Richards, 
you  nuiBt  not  go  away  ;  stay  for  dinner.'    The  preacher  spoke 


JACOB  GRUBER. 


429 


out,  *  I  cannot  stay  here.  There  are  young  persons  in  an- 
other room,  laughing  and  talking,  who  interrupt  me  in  my 
studies.  Did  you  not  know  I  was  a  minister  ?  Why  would 
you  let  me  be  so  insulted  V  All  the  man  could  say  would 
not  pacify  the  minister ;  he  must  have  his  horse,  and  go 
where  his  studies  would  not  be  hindered  or  interrupted  ;  so 
he  went  on. 

"  He  was  then  sent  to  the  Lake  country  ;  and  from  there 
the  bishop  sent  him  as  a  missionary  to  Canada.  There  he 
left  his  station,  ran  away  to  his  grandmother,  (the  Church 
of  Rome,)  got  among  the  priests,  and  the  last  account  I  saw 
of  him,  he  was  among  the  nuns,  known  as  Father  Richards,  a 
little,  good-natured,  fat  man,  &c.  I  hope  he  will  not  go  to 
limbo  or  purgatory  at  last,  to  finish  his  studies." 

If  the  reader  wishes  to  know  more  of  Jacob  Gruber's  col- 
league, "  the  solemn  and  serious  model  young  man,"  he 
can  peruse  the  following  extract  from  a  letter  of  Rev.  R.  M. 
Greenbank,  who  travelled  with  Mr.  Gruber  in  New-Jersey 
many  years  ago.  It  was  published  originally  in  the  Chris- 
tian  Advocate  and  Journal : 

"  I  was  much  amused  and  gratified  to  hear  from  my  first 
colleague  in  the  ministry.  Rev.  J.  Gruber,  with  whom  I  la- 
boured and  grubbed  very  agreeably  one  year  among  the  pine- 
roots  and  sands  of  New-Jersey.  I  was  highly  interested  in 
hearing  the  statements  in  reference  to  the  early  ministry  of 
Mr.  J.  Richards,  and  perhaps  Brother  Gruber  may  not  be 
dissatisfied  to  hear  once  more  of  his  '  fine,  sensible'  colleague, 
the  little  'fat^  Cretan  whom  I  had  the  distinguished  honour 
to  see  a  few  years  ago.  When  I  was  in  Montreal  I  took  the 
liberty  to  visit  the  old  gentleman,  (?)  and  not  far  from  the 
seminary  where  he  resides,  I  met,  from  appearance,  a  respect- 
able lady,  from  whom  I  inquired  the  way  to  the  domicil  of 
Father  Richards.  She  very  politely  returned  with  me  to  his 
residence.  As  we  wa,lked  up  the  yard  near  to  his  door,  a  well- 
fed  little  man  was  sitting  at  the  window,  enjoying,  apparently, 
a  cooling  breeze  on  a  warm  summer's  morning,  perhaps  being 


430  THE  HEROES  OF  METHODISM. 


over-fatigued  with  his  morning  religious  exercises.  My  very 
kind  Cicerone^  pointing  to  the  window,  observ^ed,  '  There  k 
Father  Richards and  as  I  was  very  near  the  window  where 
he  sat,  I  was  just  going  to  make  my  best  bow,  when  the  gen- 
tleman stepped  back  and  disappeared.  I  fully  anticipated  he 
was  coming  to  meet  me  at  the  door  and  bid  me  welcome 
to  the  seminary.  The  door  not  opening,  I  knocked  with  all 
the  gentility  I  had  ever  learned.  A  servant  was  there  in 
a  moment.  I  asked  for  Father  Richards.  He  replied,  'I 
believe  he  is  not  in,  sir,  but  will  see.'  After  a  few  moment's 
absence,  probably  spent  in  conversation  with  the  ghostly 
father,  he  returned,  and  observed,  '  He  is  not  in.'  I  replied, 
with  obstinate  pertinacity,  'I  saw  him  at  the  window  a 
minute  or  two  ago.'  He  replied,  '  I  will  see  again,'  and 
tarrying  a  little  longer  than  before,  he  returned  and  posi- 
tively assured  me  he  was  not  at  home.  Wonder  if  he  was 
still  attending  his  studies  ?  I  fear  such  modern  politeness  in 
directing  servants  to  state  such  abominable  and  wilful  false- 
hoods,- and  commanding  domestics  to  say  they  are  not  at 
home,  will  send  many  persons,  as  well  as  Brother  Gruber's 
colleague,  one  hundred  and  eighty  degrees  beyond  the  out- 
skirts of  purgatory.  Although  the  above  expression,  '  Xot 
at  home,'  be  very  common  in  the  '  heau  monde^  yet  I  appre- 
hend in  the  judgment  day,  it  will  be  alarmingly  sufficient 
to  send  the  individuals  guilty  of  these  things  to  that  place 
where  hope  and  mercy  never  come." 


GRUBER  AND  THE  QUAKER. 

"I  will  relate  a  conversation  that  took  place  on  the  road 
from  Cumberland  to  Union  Town.  I  left  Cresap  Town  early 
in  the  morning,  and  passed  the  first  tavern  about  sunrise, 
just  as  two  travellers  were  starting  on  their  journey.  We 
rode  together.  One  of  them  was  very  talkative  and  in- 
quisitive. After  I  bid  him  good  morning,  he  said,  'How 
does  thee  do  V    After  asking  me  a  number  of  questions,  my 


JACOB  GRUBER. 


431 


turn  came  to  ask. '  Where  did  you  come  from  V  *  From  Vir- 
ginia,' was  the  answer.  '  What  part  V  He  rephed,  '  Apple- 
pie  Ridge.'  'That  is  a  place  I  have  been  at  in  years 
past,'  said  I.  '  Is  it  improving  any  ?'  *  O  yes,  it  is.  There 
are  a  number  of  Friends  about  there.'  '  Well,  there  are  re- 
vivals of  religion  in  different  parts  and  denominations  now. 
Is  there  any  revival,  are  any  getting  religion  and  getting  con- 
verted, among  the  Friends  on  Applepie  Ridge  V  '  O  yes,  a 
good  many,  I  hope.'  '  I  am  glad  to  hear  that — am  always 
glad  to  hear  of  souls  getting  converted  anywhere,  but  never 
heard  of  any  getting  converted  in  a  Quaker  or  Friends'  meet- 
ing in  my  travels.'  He  said,  '  Thee  is  uncharitable.'  '  I 
do  vmt  wish  to  be  so ;  but  now  you  bring  good  news.  Were 
there  many  converts  at  Applepie  Ridge  V  '  I  hope  a  good 
many,'  said  he.  '  Well,  I  hope  so,  too.  Could  you  give  me 
the  names  of  some,  perhaps  I  might  know  them  V  '  O,  there 
are  a  number.'  'I  am  glad  of  that.  Please  to  name  two 
or  three  V  A  pause  and  silence.  '  I  want  to  have  it  to  say,' 
I  continued,  '  that  souls  get  converted  among  you  as  well  as 
among  other  denominations.  Don't  leave  me  as  uncharitable 
as  you  found  me.  Name  one  convert.'  No  answer.  '  Have 
you  ever  been  converted  yourself?'  No  reply.  At  length 
he  said,  '  We  don't  look  at  these  things,  and  speak  of  them, 
as  thee  does.'  '  What,'  said  I,  '  can  you,  after  being  sick, 
full  of  pain,  miserable,  starving,  and  in  a  dark  dungeon,  be 
cured,  healed,  find  peace  and  rest,  be  fed  and  filled,  be  brought 
into  light  and  liberty,  and  not  tell  of  it  ?  After  being  blind, 
can  you  recover  your  sight  and  not  know  it,  and  speak  of  it  ? 
Ay,  tell  to  all  around  what  a  loving,  powerful  Saviour  you 
have  found.'  He  said,  'There  is  no  need  of  speaking  or 
preaching.  Every  one  might  turn  inward,  and  find  the  true 
Teacher  and  inward  light.'  '  What,'  I  asked,  '  do  you  mean 
Christ,  by  the  true  Teacher  and  light?'  He  said,  'Yes.' 
'Why,  then,'  I  replied,  'he  is  compared  to  the  sun;  and 
that  sun  that  is  shining  on  us,  and  all  around  us,  is  not  in 
us.    He  dwells  in  the  hearts  of  believers  by  faith.    He  is 


432 


THE  HEROES  OF  METHODISM. 


not  in  the  wicked ;  lie  "  stands  at  the  door  and  knocks,"  not 
inside.  You  make  no  distinction  between  the  good  and  the 
bad — all  have  the  same  inward  Teacher.  But  it  is  clear  that 
Satan  is  in  sinners.  The  evil  spirit  works  in  the  children  of 
disobedience.  It  does  not  teach  them  to  read  and  search 
the  Scriptures,  to  pray,  and  keep  holy  the  Sabbath  day,  and 
to  walk  in  all  the  commandments  and  ordinances  of  God 
blameless.'  He  turned  off  from  the  road  to  a  house,  to  get 
his  breakfast,  and  said,  as  he  went,  'Fare  thee  well.'  So  let 
it  be.    Farewell." — /.  G ruber. 

GRUBER  AXD  THE  IRISHWOMAN. 

• 

"Between  Redstone  and  Washington  there  was  a  yary 
friendly  Irish  family.  The  woman  was  '  a  great  woman  ;' 
she  *  guided  her  house,'  and  sometimes  her  husband  too,  like 
the  Shunamite.  She  was  a  subscriber  to  Dr.  Clarke's  Com- 
mentary, and  also  a  great  friend  and  admirer  of  John  Wes- 
ley and  his  preachers.  The  first  morning  after  lodging  in 
her  house  she  said  to  me,  'Now you  can  say  what  you  never 
could  say  before.'  '  What  is  that  V  '  Why,  you  slept  in  the 
bed  that  Mr.  Wesley  slept  in.'  '  How  is  that  ?'  '  Why,  the 
last  time  he  was  in  Ireland  he  lodged  with  us,  and  I  have 
always  kept  that  bed  for  the  preachers  to  sleep  in.' 

"  She  told  me  about  a  Church  parson  in  this  country,  who 
had  been  one  of  Mr.  Wesley's  preachers  in  Ireland,  but  was 
overcome  by  a  besetting  sin,  and  got  out  of  the  connexion. 
He  came  to  this  country,  got  a  gown,  became  a  parson,  and 
one  day  he  called  at  her  house.  She  treated  him  kindly, 
but  was  afraid  he  would  take  it  as  a  respect  to  his  oflSce. 
So  she  told  him  that,  when  he  came  that  way,  he  was  wel- 
come to  call,  because  he  had  once  been  one  of  Mr.  Wesley's 
preachers.  David  respected  Saul  because  he  was  the  Lord's 
anointed,  so  I  shall  always  respect  you  because  you  was  once 
one  of  Mr.  Wesley's  preachers ;  not  because  you  are  a  parson, 
and  get  frishj  sometimes.'    He  replied,  '  No  great  compli- 


JACOB  GRUBER. 


433 


ment,  madam ;  good-by/  I  know  not  whether  lie  called 
again. 

"She  had  a  singular  idea  in  one  thing.  I  inquired 
whose  field  that  was  in  sight  of  her  house  ?  She  told  the 
man's  name,  but  said  he  was  not  likely  to  come  to  much. 
I  asked  why  ?  She  said,  '  lie  is  a  bachelor.'  '  What,'  said 
I,  cannot  a  person — a  man — get  along  in  the  world,  and 
do  well,  without  getting  married?'  She  answered,  'No; 
but  as  soon  as  a  man  is  married  he  may  get  on  his  knees 
before  his  wife,  and  ask  her  if  he  shall  ever  be  worth  any- 
thing.' She  thought,  too,  that  '  a  girl  that  did  not  know 
liow  to  make  and  bake  bread,  and  make  her  own  clothes, 
and  do  housework,  would  be  at  a  loss  to  direct  how  it  should 
be  done,  and  would  be  a  poor  thing  for  a  wife.  She  might 
do  for  a  doll,  or  a  plaything  to  put  in  a  cage,  or  to  look  at, 
and  to  catch  a  fool.'  And  I  think  the  Irishwoman  was 
more  than  half  right." — J.  Gruher. 

GRUBER  AND  TWO  RICH  METHODISTS. 

"  On  the  South  Branch  some  rich  men  were  members  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  One  was  said  to  be  a 
singular  man.  I  will  state  one  of  his  pecuharities.  He 
did  not  like  to  be  imposed  upon.  He  frequently  had  vis- 
itoi-s,  travellers,  who  called  themselves  Methodists,  and 
wanted  to  stay  all  night.  If  they  liad  a  fine  dandy  ap- 
pearance, he  would  tell  them  they  must  feed  their  own 
horses.  He  would  show  them  the  granary,  take  them  into 
it,  and  shut  the  door.  Then  they  must  kneel  down  and  let 
him  hear  them  pray.  He  thought  he  could  tell  what  they 
were.  Just  before  a  quarterly  meeting,  when  he  was  near 
his  end,  I  went  to  see  him.  He  was  '  calm  as  summer  even- 
ings are  ;'  his  prospect  bright,  his  peace  great,  and  his  hope 
full  of  immortality.  I  was  the  last  that  prayed  with  him, 
and  that  he  spoke  to.  One  thing  which  he  said  was  this : 
*Some  of  my  neighbours  set  me  down  for  a  hypocrite  or  an 


434 


THE  HEROES  OF  METHODISM. 


enthusiast  in  life,  but  I  hope  they  will  believe  me  sincere  in 
dying,  as  I  shall  die.  I  hope  I  shall  be  like  Samson,  con- 
quer more  of  the  enemies  of  religion  in  my  death  than  in  all 
my  life.'  I  sat  by  his  side  till  he  breathed  his  last.  His 
end  was  peace.  He  fell  asleep  in  Jesus,  not  to  awake  till 
the  morning  of  the  resurrection.  I  made  an  effort  to  preach 
his  funeral  sermon  to  a  very  large  and  serious  congregation. 
'  Blessed  are  the  dead  who  die  in  the  Lord.'  I  said  to  my- 
self, '  Let  my  last  end  be  like  his.'  Amen." 

"I  want  to  write  something  about  another  man  in  the 
same  neighbourhood,  a  rich  man,  but  an  humble,  good  man 
— not  always  the  case  with  rich  men.  He  had  a  large 
family,  a  number  of  slaves,  and  was  a  good  master.  His 
slaves  were  better  off  than  some  who  were  their  own  mas- 
ters. He  had  a  large  house,  and  had  good  lessons  written 
above  the  doors  in  large  letters  ;  in  one  place,  '  God  is  here,' 
and  something  good  above  almost  every  door.  The  worship 
of  God  was  regular  in  his  house.  About  daybreak  a  trum- 
pet was  blown  as  a  signal  to  rise.  About  a  quarter  or  half 
an  hour  afterward,  the  trumpet  sounded  again  for  prayer ; 
all  in  the  house,  the  kitchen,  or  the  quarter,  were  to  attend. 
If  there  was  a  preacher  there,  he  was  told  the  order  of  the 
house.  If  he  did  not  get  up,  they  had  prayer  without  him  : 
they  w^ould  not  derange  the  family  regulation  for  a  lazy 
preacher,  who  preached  self-denial  and  laid  abed  till  after 
breakfast  time.  About  sunrise  they  were  all  ready  to  go  to 
their  work,  and  to  work  while  it  was  day.  He  was  a  straight, 
tall  man,  had  some  office,  but  was  as  teachable  as  a  cliild. 
He  told  a  preacher  who  had  spoken  or  written  very  plainly 
and  pointedly  to  him  about  his  duty  in  a  certain  thing,  'I 
am  like  a  certain  kind  of  dog — the  more  you  whip  me,  the 
more  I  love  you.'  At  one  of  the  camp-meetings  he  got  such 
a  powerful  blessing,  that  he  scarcely  knew  how  to  contain 
himself.  He  walked  about,  shouting,  laughing,  crying,  and 
looking  up  to  heaven.  He  said  to  me,  '  I  did  not  know 
what  to  do  with  my  mouth,  how  to  hold  it :  my  neighbours 


JACOB  GRUBER. 


435 


looked  and  stared  at  me,  and  thought  me  a  fool,  but  I  did 
not  care,  I  was  so  happy.  Glory  to  God  !'  I  have  no  doubt 
he  is  now  happy  in  heaven,  and  looking  out  for  his  friends 
to  join  him." — /.  Gruher. 

GRUBER  ON  GAIETY  AMONG  METHODISTS. 

"  Some  ask,  Why  do  not  preachers  preach  against  the  fash- 
ions of  the  world  ?  It  is  answered.  The  preachers  read  the 
rules  and  make  comments  upon  them.  Some,  in  preaching, 
draw  the  bow  and  take  aim  at  some  in  the  congregation, 
but  the  arrow  does  not  reach  its  object ;  it  is  stopped  in  the 
trimming,  rigging,  muff-drums,  bustles,  and  other  fashiona- 
ble gear  of  their  wives  and  daughters.  Some  dare  not  say 
anything  against  the  fashions  and  customs  of  the  world  for 
fear  of  hearing,  *  Physician,  heal  thyself — begin  at  home. 
What  shall  we  do  ?  I  do  not  want  to  live  to  be  an  old, 
complaining,  fault-finding  man ;  but  I  hope  never  to  get 
into  my  dotage,  so  as  to  call  thafright  which  is  wrong,  and 
forbidden  in  Scripture  and  in  our  Discipline.  Why  did  St. 
Peter  and  St.  Paul  write  against  women  wearing  or  putting 
on  gold  ?  &c.  Were  they  old  and  doting  ?  Likewise  Wes- 
ley and  Fletcher,  Dr.  Clarke  and  Watson,  and  many  who 
are  in  heaven,  or  on  their  way  there,  and  who  have  testified 
against  this  evil — were  these  all  dotards  ?  I  make  an  apol- 
ogy for  some  of  our  women,  telling  them  they  would  not  go 
contrary  to  the  New  Testament  and  our  Discipline,  by  wear- 
ing gold  and  costly  apparel.  Everything  is  not  gold  that  is 
yellow :  their  rings,  lockets,  trinkets,  &c.,  are  of  brass  or 
pinchbeck,  and  very  cheap.  Alas !  I  get  no  thanks  for  my 
apology.  If  some  of  them  had  as  much  grace  as  they  have 
brass  about  them,  they  would  be  much  happier,  and  not  so 
easily  offended.  The  fashion  of  this  world  passeth  away. 
May  the  Lord  keep  us  from  the  evil,  that  we  may  not  perish 
from  the  world  forever.  Amen. 

"  What  must  a  preacher  think,  or  how  must  he  feel,  if  he. 
19* 


436 


THE  HEROES  OF  METHODISM, 


should  hear  that  not  a  few  of  the  members  say  they  do  not 
want  him  in  their  station,  or  on  their  circuit,  nor  his  gown, 
nor  his  whiskers,  nor  his  wife,  nor  her  bustle,  artificials,  or 
curls  ?  Is  there  no  possibility  of  getting  a  reproach  wiped 
away  from  us,  which  comes  in  language  hke  this :  '  The 
Methodists  are  as  proud,  gay,  and  fashionable  as  any  denom- 
ination in  our  country  V  " — J.  Gruber. 

GRUBEPw  ON  METHODIST  MINISTERS  USING  TOBACCO. 

"  Let  me  ask  a  question :  How  shall  we  cure  or  treat  a  young 
preacher  who  preaches  self-denial,  is  very  severe  on  those  who 
take  a  dram  sometimes,  but  takes  tobacco  himself  without  ceas- 
ing, and  says  he  cannot  quit  it,  it  does  him  good  ?  Is  not  his 
faith  strong?  But  still,  it  is  not  as  large  as  a  grain  of 
mustard-seed,  or  it  would  remove  this  mountain.  It  is  only 
as  large  as  a  grain  of  tobacco-seed.  What  a  pity  !  I  had 
some  acquaintance  with  a  good  man  who  was  a  judge  of 
good  tobacco.  One  of  his  particular  friends  told  me  that 
one  day  he  was  confused  in  his  preaching.  He  asked  him 
after  meeting,  what  was  the  matter  that  he  could  not  get 
along  better  ?  '  Why,'  said  the  preacher,  '  I  had  such  bad 
tobacco.'  '  AVhat,  do  you  chew  while  you  are  preaching  V 
*  Yes,  I  always  take  a  fresh  plug  when  I  begin.'  '  After 
this,'  said  this  friend,  '  I  could  always  tell  Avhen  I  heard  that 
preacher,  whether  he  had  good  tobacco,  and  I  frequently 
gave  him  some.'  May  the  Lord  pity  us,  and  save  us !  So 
prays — /.  Gruber.'^ 

GRUBER  AND  THE  MAN  IN  A  COLD,  WINTER  STATE. 

"  Some  say  variety  is  the  spice  of  life ;  but  to  put  it  together, 
and  give  beauty,  harmony,  and  life  to  it,  is  more  than  a 
sufficient  task  for  me.  But  still  I  will  write  more  of  what 
took  place  in  Monongahela  district  before  the  last  war. 
.Though  there  had  been  a  great  stir,  and  revival,  and  new 


JACOB  GKUBEK.  437 

light,  yet  there  was  a  great  deal  of  old  darkness  and  super- 
stition, but  with  httle  deep  and  experimental  godliness.  In 
going  to  an  appointtnent  one  day  I  got  in  company  with  a 
straight,  stiff-looking  man,  on  his  way  to  a  sacrament 
meeting.  In  conversing  with  him  I  found  he  was  in  '  a  cold, 
winter  state.'  As  a  stranger,  I  inquired  if  '  their  apple-trees 
bore,  or  had  fruit,  in  the  winter  V  He  said,  '  No.'  '  Do 
they  bear  crabs,  or  apples  of  Sodom,  in  the  winter?'  He 
said,  '  No ;  they  bear  no  kind  of  fruit  in  the  winter.'  I  said, 
'  If  a  man's  faith  is  dead  tvithout  good  works,  what  kind  of 
faith  has  he  wdiile  his  works  are  bad  P  He  said,  '  No  man 
can  live  without  sin ;  as  soon  as  a  man  is  made  holy,  he 
must  die ;  he  cannot  stay  in  this  world  any  longer.'  I  said, 
'  How  can  he  serve  God  in  holiness,  and  have  his  fruit  unto 
hohness,  and  still  live  in  sin  V  " 

GRUBER'S  DESCRIPTION  OF   CAMP-MEETING  SCENES. 

Mr.  Gruber  held  camp-meetings  on  the  Mouongahela 
district  in  1810.    He  thus  describes 

THE  CONVERSION  OF  A  MAN  WITH  A  PISTOL. 

"  In  one  camp  some  bold  sinners  came  to  fight  for  their 
master ;  but  our  Captain  made  prisoners  of  them,  and  then 
made  them  '  free  indeed.'  One  fine,  young,  strong-looking 
man  among  the  mourners  was  in  great  distress,  and  found  no 
relief  till  he  drew  a  large  pistol  out  of  his  pocket,  with  which 
he  had  intended  to  defend  himself  if  any  one  should  offer 
to  speak  to  him,  and  laid  it  down  on  the  bench.  Then  the 
Lord  blessed  his  soul,  and  gave  him  great  victory.  He  had 
grounded  the  weapons  of  rebellion,  and  now  enhsted  under 
a  new  captain — the  Prince  of  Peace." — /.  Gruber. 


438 


THE  HEROES  OF  METHODISM. 


THE  CONVERSION  OF  A  MAJOR. 

"  In  another  camp,  after  midnight,  among  many  mourners, 
there  was  a  large  man  (some  called  him  Major,  and  he  had 
been  a  Baptist)  who  was  in  great  distress,  crying  and  praying 
for  mercy.  Some  looked  on  with  astonishment ;  for  they 
said,  '  None  but  shallow  men,  silly  women,  and  ignorant 
children,  would  make  such  a  noise  in  a  public  congregation. 
But  see,  see  there,  there  is  the  Major ;  look,  look,  hear,  only 
hear  him  I'  Presently  the  Lord  blessed  him  powerfully. 
He  arose,  and  big  and  heavy  as  he  was,  he  leaped  as  high 
as  the  benches,  shouting  '  Glory  to  God  I  there  is  mercy  for 
all.  I  used  to  hear  it  was  only  for  a  few.  Now  T  know 
Christ  died  for  me ;  yes,  he  died  for  all.'  In  the  height  of 
his  rapturous  joy  he  saw  one  of  his  brother  officers  looking 
on.  He  called  to  him,  and  said, '  Captain,  come  here :  there 
is  a  reality  in  religion ;  don't  you  believe  it  ?  Yes,  yes,  there 
is  mercy  for  all.  Glory,  glory  to  God  for  it  I'  While  he 
was  telling  the  captain  this  wondei-ful  news,  his  wife  was 
brought  to  him.  She  too  had  just  got  her  soul  blessed  and 
made  happy.  She  had  been  in  distress,  and  praying  among 
mourners  in  another  part  of  the  congregation.  She  had 
been  a  Presbyterian  nominally,  but  she  learned  a  new  lesson, 
and  a  new  song  [which  was  neither  Presbyterianism  nor 
Methodism,  but  evangelical  religion.]  AVhen  she  met  her 
happy  husband,  she  shouted  'Glory  to  God!'  They 
embraced  each  other,  and  wept  tears  of  joy.  There  were 
but  few  dry  eyes  around  them.  O  what  a  time  it  was  I  a 
heaven  on  earth — joy  in  heaven  above,  and  here  on  earth 
below.  Hosanna!  A  little  before  day  they  went  into  a 
tent.  Some  of  the  Major's  old  friends  were  watching  him. 
They  did  not  come  to  pray  with  him  in  his  distress,  but  now 
they  came  and  took  him  out  back  of  the  tent.  He  was 
gone  but  a  little  while,  and  came  back,  saying,  '  My  Baptist 
friends  need  not  think  strange  of  me  because  I  am  a  Meth- 


JACOB  GRUBEK. 


439 


odist.'  He  and  his  wife  joined  our  Church.  It  wa8  *  the 
Lord's  doing,  and  marvellous'  in  many  eyes." — J.  Gruber. 

CAMP  MEETING  HELD  ALL  NIGHT. 

"  Our  meeting's  frequently  lasted  several  whole  nights  in  the 
camp.  At  one  of  them,  between  Washington,  Pa.,  and 
Steubenville,  there  was  very  little  intermission  day  or  night. 
The  work  went  on — preaching,  exhortation,  weeping  a^ld 
rejoicing,  singing  and  praying,  crying  and  shouting — I  saw 
the  day  break  three  mornings  at  that  meeting.  We  fulfilled 
what  we  had  sung — 

•  With  thee  all  night  we  mean  to  stay, 
And  wrestle  till  the  break  of  day.' 

And  we  could  sing,  too, 

•  Break  forth  into  singing,  ye  trees  of  the  wood, 
For  Jesus  is  bringing  lost  sinners  to  God  V 

Truly  these  were  days  of  the  Son  of  man,  when  he  made 
known  his  power  on  earth.  Glory  be  to  God  for  his  won- 
derful works !" — J.  Gruher. 

A  SINGULAR  LOCAL  PREACHER. 

"  In  Rockingham,  Greenbrier  district,  we  had  a  local  preacher 
who  was  a  good  and  great  man,  but  very  singular  withal.  The 
presiding  elder,  J.  W.,  frequently  took  him  to  camp-meeting, 
as  he  was  very  active  and  successful  in  labouring  with  mourn- 
ers. On  one  occasion,  the  presiding  elder  would  have  him  to 
preach  first  on  a  Sunday  morning,  and  said  he  would  follow 
after  him.  He  had  to  obey ;  but  after  prayer  and  reading 
a  text,  he  told  his  congregation  to  be  patient ;  he  was  not 
going  to  preach,  but  was  only  going  before  to  prepare  the 
way,  like  John  the  Baptist.  '  There  is  one  to  speak  after 
me,'  said  he,  '  that  is  mightier  than  I,  the  latchet  of  whose 
shoes  I  am  not  worthy  to  unloose.'    In  a  camp- meeting, 


440 


THE  HEROES  OF  METHODISM. 


where  the  work  did  not  go  on  well,  mourners  few  and  slow 
in  coming  to  the  altar,  he  went  into  it,  and  spoke  out, 
'Come  on,  I  want  to  get  a  little  more  converted  myself.* 
He  kneeled  down  at  the  mourners'  bench,  and  soon  had  a 
crowd  around  him,  and  went  to  work  with  them :  the  Lord 
was  with  him,  and  the  work  went  on ;  souls  were  converted 
powerfully.  If  some,  instead  of  looking  at  and  watching 
others,  would  pray  and  get  a  little  w.ore  converted  them- 
selves, they  would  be  happier.  Like  one  who  did  not  feel 
happy,  when  some  near  him  became  excited,  he  said,  '  Don't 
shout  yet,  you  are  not  ready ;  go  on,  but  hold  back.'  Next 
day  he  was  blessed,  and  felt  happy,  looked  around,  and 
spoke  out  again,  '  You  may  shout  now.  Glory  to  God  I'  He 
was  ready  then. 

"  In  a  place  near  a  town,  there  was  a  revival,  but  much 
opposition  by  the  clergy  and  others.  There  was  a  college 
there,  and  our  singular  man  sent  an  appointment  for  preach- 
ing to  the  place,  and  went  to  stop  the  mouths  of  persecutors. 
Having  been  a  '  master  mason,'  and  a  stone  mason,  he 
thought  he  could  do  it,  as  he  had  built  their  college,  and 
was  acquainted  with  the  people  and  their  religion.  He  took 
a  text  about  the  book  of  life,  and  the  names  written  in  it, 
and  falling  down,  crying.  Holy,  holy,  (fee,  (fcc,  worshipping. 
He  showed  the  necessity  of  worshipping  God  and  being 
holy,  the  impropriety  of  wickedness  and  persecution,  and 
said  they  must  serve  God  and  be  holy  to  be  found  in  the 
book  of  life.  In  his  application,  he  told  them  many  of  their 
names  were  not  in  the  book  of  life,  but  in  such  and  such 
people's  good  books,  naming  some  tavern-keepers.  These, 
he  said,  were  not  books  of  life,  but  of  death,  containing  bills 
for  whisky  and  for  stirrup  drams ;  and  perhaps,  if  they 
would  look,  they  might  find  twenty-four  elders'  names  there, 
who  fell  down  when  they  could  not  stand  any  longer,  and 
cried,  'Unholy,  unholy,  we  cannot  live  without  sin.'  The 
Methodists  had  some  rest  and  less  persecution  after  that  in 
that  place." 


JACOB  GRUBER. 


441 


It  is  amusing  to  read  Mr.  Gruber's  description  of  "  singular 
men,"  he  having  been  himself  considered  the  oddest  of  all 
the  odd.  I  have  sometimes  doubted  whether  any  eccentric 
man  is  aware  of  his  real  character.  They  move  in  an  orbit 
so  different  from  the  generality  of  people,  they  think  others 
are  singular,  not  themselves.  I  once  said  to  Billy  Hibbard, 
"  You  are  considered  very  odd."  He  said,  "  It  is  a  grand 
mistake;  I  am  not  odd — other  people  are  odd — if  they 
were  all  like  me,  there  would  be  no  odd  folks." 

GRUBER'S  DISLIKE  FOR  MINISTERIAL  CANES. 

Mr.  Gruber  was  once  attending  a  camp-meeting  in  Pennsyl- 
vania, and  saw  a  young  preacher  with  a  cane.  Mr.  Gruber 
indirectly  reproved  him  by  inquiring,  "  What  do  you  carry 
that  stick  for?  Can't  you  stand  up  without  assistance?" 
The  young  minister  was  quite  shrewd,  and  knowing  Mr. 
Gruber's  hatred  to  dogs,  replied,  "I  carry  this  to  protect 
myself  from  dogs."  Mr.  Gruber,  with  equal  readiness  of 
wit,  replied,  "  I  should  think  it  pretty  poor  business  to  be  a 
dog  pelter."— i^ev.  G.  D.  B. 

GRUBER  SETTLING  A  FAMILY  QUARREL. 

"  In  Rockingham  I  found  a  serious  case ;  two  respectable 
persons,  the  one  among  the  oldest  members,  the  other  a 
class-leader,  had  a  misunderstanding  between  them.  Though 
father-in-law  and  son-in-law,  they  were  not  on  speaking 
terras  with  each  other.  At  a  camp-meeting  each  had  a 
tent.  I  watched  when  they  were  in  a  good  frame, 
and  in  an  intermission  of  services  I  went  to  the  leader's 
tent,  and  told  him  he  and  his  wife  should  take  a  walk 
with  me.  He  asked,  '  Where  to  V  I  answered,  '  To  your 
father-in-law's  tent.'  He  begged  to  be  excused.  'I  told 
him  I  mui.tand  would  see  them  together.'  He  said,  'Then 
let  us  meet  in  the  woods  back  of  the  tents.'    To  this  I 


442  THE  HEROES  OF  METHODISM. 

agreed,  and  added,  '  You  and  your  wife  go  from  your  tent 
in  such  a  direction.'  I  went  to  the  old  man's  tent,  and  told 
him  he  and  his  wife  should  take  a  walk  with  me.  He 
agreed,  and  I  started  in  a  certain  direction.  They  followed 
me.  Before  we  got  far  we  met  the  son-in-law  and  his  wife 
coming  toward  us.  They  met,  face  to  face,  and  I  intro- 
duced them  to  each  other.  They  shook  hands  doubly,  em- 
braced each  other,  and  wept.  I  wept  too,  and  we  all  wept 
together.  Satan's  snare  was  broken ;  they  talked  together 
after  a  silence  of  months ;  their  families  were  like  new  friends 
in  the  way  to  heaven ;  they  lived  and  died  in  friendship  and 
love,  as  far  as  I  know.  Thank  the  Lord  for  camp-meetings 
and  great  grace." — J.  Gruher. 

GRUBER  A>^D  THE  YOUXG  LAWYER. 

The  first  quarterly  meeting  I  attended  in  Pittsburgh  was 
held  in  a  private  house,  T.  Cooper's.  There  were  two 
large  rooms  and  an  entry,  all  filled.  We  had  a  good  work, 
souls  converted,  and  believers  edified.  After  preaching  one 
night,  and  while  praying  with  mourners  in  the  front  room, 
some  one  fired  a  squib  in  the  back  room.    We  sung  on, 

"  Shout,  shout,  we're  gaining  ground, 
The  power  of  God  is  coming  down." 

The  squib-fellow  ran. 

"  When  Christians  pray,  the  devil  runs, 
And  leaves  the  field  to  Zion's  sons." 

He  was  brought  before  a  justice  of  the  peace  the  next  day. 
He  was  a  young  man,  who  was  learning  to  he  a  lawyer,  and 
told  a  lie  in  denying  what  he  had  done,  but  could  not  stick 
to  it.  When  the  case  came  on,  he  plead  guilty.  Some  of 
our  oflScial  members  were  sent  foi-,  and  requested  to  say 
what  they  wanted  done  with  the  young  man.  They  said, 
*  Don't  hurt  him;  we  do  not  want  him  punished:  all  we 
want  is  peace,  and  liberty  to  worship  without  being  inter- 


JACOB  GRUBER. 


rupted.*  The  judge  made  him  stand  and  hold  up  his  hand, 
while  he  gave  him  a  severe  lecture,  made  him  pay  a  fine, 
and  let  hira  run,  and  learn  to  do  better.  We  had  no  more 
squibs  there.  The  Methodists  soon  built  a  meeting-house, 
prospered,  increased,  and  became  a  city  station  ;  they  built  a 
house  for  worship,  and  I  know  not  what  all." — J.  Gruher. 

GRUBER  REFUTING  A  PROVERB. 

Still  water  runs  deep  is  an  old  adage  that  has  passed 
into  a  proverb;  but  Jacob  Gruber  controverted  it  in  a 
sermon  which  he  preached  a  number  of  years  since  at 
Allentown,  New-Jersey.  He  used  to  shout  aloud  the 
praises  of  God,  and  contended  that  it  was  Scriptural.  In 
answering  the  objections  to  slwuting,  he  noticed  this,  "  Still 
water  runs  deep."  "Not  so,"  said  he;  still  ivater  does 
not  run  at  all,  for  if  it  run  it  would  not  be  still.  Fur- 
thermore, still  water  is  not  so  pure  as  the  water  that  runs. 
It  becomes  stagnant,  slimy,  and  breeds  tad-poles." — Isaiah 
Toy, 

GRUBER  AND  THE  QUAKER. 

"In  the  year  1814,  I  was  stationed  in  Baltimore  city  sta- 
tion. There  were  four  preachers.  Sharp-street  and  Asbury 
were  included,  each  having  a  regular  appointment  there.  It 
was  understood  that  the  preacher  whose  name  was  second 
on  the  plan  should  attend  to  the  coloured  people's  business  ; 
so  they  called  me  their  elder.  One  of  their  official  men 
soon  told  me  that  they  had  persecution  at  Sharp-street,  by 
the  Quakers,  for  having  too  much  noise  in  their  meetings. 
They  had  complained  to  the  grand  jury,  who  sent  for  an 
old  Friend,  whose  house  was  near  the  meeting-house,  to  know 
about  the  noise,  which  some  said  was  a  nuisance  in  the 
neighbourhood,  &c.  The  old  Friend  said  the  noise  did  not 
hurt  him,  so  they  found  no  bill.  An  old  Friend  soon  called 
on  me  to  let  me  know  he  had  heard  I  had  charge  of  the 


444 


THE  IlEKOES  OF  METHODISM. 


coloured  people ;  that  tliey  were  very  unruly,  and  hard  to 
govern  and  to  keep  quiet;  that  he  lived  near  Sharp-street 
meeting-house,  and  that  he  would  assist  me  in  getting  them 
into  order.  I  thanked  him  for  his  kindness,  told  him  that  I 
would  do  all  I  could  to  get  them  light  and  good,  and  that 
much  allowance  ought  to  be  made  for  them ;  many  were 
slaves  and  ignorant,  and  ought  to  be  pitied  and  instructed. 
I  said  I  was  told,  that  one  night  last  winter,  an  old  man  went 
into  their  meeting  while  they  were  singing  and  praying,  put 
out  some  of  the  lights,  raised  his  staff,  and  ordered  them  out 
of  the  house,  to  break  up  their  meeting.  He  said,  '  That 
was  me.'  '  What !'  said  I,  '  did  you  do  that  V  He  said, 
*  Yes.'  I  said,  '  What  would  you  say  if  one  of  them  had 
come  into  your  meeting,  and  found  you  sitting  silent,  had 
raised  his  stick,  knocked  off  your  hats,  and  told  you  to  clear 
out  ?  This  is  not  the  way  to  worship  !  What !  to  set  here 
at  ease,  nodding  and  plotting;  no  praying  or  preaching, 
no  crying  aloud,  showing  the  people  their  sins,  nor  getting 
their  souls  converted.  Some  of  them  were  ignorant  enough 
to  think  they  had  liberty,  in  this  free  country,  to  worship  as 
the  Spirit  led  them,  as  well  as  others.  I  said,  I  was  sorry 
when  the  noisy  Methodists  and  silent  Quakers  were  near 
neighbours.' 

"  I  saw,  some  Sunday  mornings,  companies  of  men  op- 
posite Sharp-street  meeting-house,  on  the  pavement,  reading 
the  newspaper,  while  the  coloured  people  were  singing  and 
praying,  &c.  This  would  disturb  the  readers.  'What,'  says 
he,  'does  thee  think  it  wrong  to  read  a  newspaper  on  the 
first  day  V  I  said,  '  It  is  not  setting  a  good  example  to  the 
coloured  people,  nor  to  any  that  go  along  the  street ;  for  it 
is  written,  '  Remember  the  Sabbath  day  to  keep  it  holy.'  I 
inquired,  '  How  many  coloured  members  have  you  in  your 
meeting  ?'  He  said,  '  Not  any  hero.'  '  What,  not  any  in 
Baltimore  ?'  '  No.'  '  What  a  pity  I  If  you  had,  we  could 
see  you  keep  them  in  order,'  (fee.  He  said,  '  Friends  had 
some  in  their  society  in  New-York.'    I  told  him  we  could 


JACOB  GRUBER.  445 

not  go  to  New- York  for  a  pattern.  '  Begin  in  good  earnest 
here,  and  get  coloured  people  into  your  meeting,  get  them 
converted,  show  as  much  friendship  for  their  souls  as  for 
their  bodies ;  then  you  can  show  us  what  a  fine,  plain,  relig- 
ious society  of  negroes  you  have,  and  we  will  take  pattern 
by  it,  if  you  have  a  more  excellent  way.  But  tell  me,  have 
you  not  complaints  against  Light-street  meetings  at  night  V 
He  said,  *  Yes,'  he  thought  it  would  be  best  not  to  have 
night  meetings.  I  told  him  to  go  and  get  the  white  people 
right  and  in  order,  which  would  take  him  awhile  and  keep 
him  busy.    He  never  came  back  to  help  me." — J  Gruher. 

GRUBER'S  PRAYER  FOR  KING  GEORGE.     HIS  VIEWS 
OF  THE  HORRORS  OF  WAR. 

*'  In  Baltimore  we  laboured  successfully,  though  in  the  midst 
of  the  war,  and  had  a  large  increase.  I  do  not  recollect 
the  number  among  the  whites,  but  we  added  more  than  five 
hundred  to  Sharp-street  and  Asbury.  There  were  between 
forty  and  fifty  classes  in  that  charge.  We  had  a  very  severe 
and  trying  time,  '  fightings  without  and  fears  within.'  The 
soldiers  encamped  around  the  city.  I  tried  to  preach  to 
them  twice.  Had  another  appointment  to  preach  to  them 
on  a  Sunday  afternoon,  but  while  I  was  trying  to  preach  at 
Light-street,  in  the  morning,  the  alarm  was  given  that  the 
British  soldiers  were  landing  at  North  Point.  My  meeting 
concluded,  some  were  in  a  hurry  to  get  away,  some  were 
much  alarmed,  some  said  I  was  frightened  and  prayed  for  the 
king  after  this  manner,  'Lord,  bless  King  George;  convert 
him,  and  take  him  to  heaven ;  we  have  enough  and  want  no 
more  of  him.'  Right  or  wrong  as  the  prayer  was,  not  a  few 
said.  Amen.  Soon  after,  instead  of  preparing  to  hear  me  in 
the  afternoon,  the  soldiers  marched  and  prepared  to  give  the 
king's  soldiers  a  warm  and  wonderful  salutation  and  recep- 
tion, and  send  as  many  of  them  as  they  could  to  heaveu  or 
hell,  without  praying  the  Lord  to  convert  them. 


446 


THE  HEROES  OF  METHODISM. 


"  I  will  not  attempt  to  describe  the  glory  of  the  day  and 
night  of  the  bombardment,  the  bombs  and  rockets  flying 
in  their  sublime  beauty  and  glory  ;  this  has  been  done  long 
ago  in  a  masterly  and  superlative  manner.  Still  there  were 
persons,  even  in  Baltimore,  that  did  not  like  nor  love  the 
war,  blamed  Madison  for  it,  said  his  administration  was 
hke  the  street  called  by  his  name,  it  began  at  the  poor- 
house,  went  past  the  jail,  then  past  the  penitentiary,  and 
ended  on  Gallows  Hill.  Some  delight  in  war,  and  sail  in 
the  storm,  and  live  in  fire. 

"  The  most  painful  funeral  I  attended  was  that  of  one  of 
our  members  who  was  killed  in  battle,  and  was  buried  with 
the  honours  of  war,  as  they  called  it.  From  such  honours  the 
good  Lord  preserve  and  keep  me.  I  had  rather  be  buried 
with  the  honours  of  Lazarus  the  beggar,  than  to  have  them 
shoot  into  my  grave  as  though  they  wanted  to  kill  me  again, 
and  then  fire  upward  after  ray  spirit  as  though  they  wanted 
to  kill  that  too.  What  pains  are  taken,  and  what  expenses 
are  brought  on  families  and  the  public,  to  make  death  and 
destruction  both  honourable  and  glorious  !" — J.  Gruher. 

GRUBER'S  PRAYER  FOR  A  MINISTER. 

At  a  certain  place  Mr.  Gruber  preached  in  a  house  where 
the  Presbyterians  preached  a  part  of  the  day,  and  the  Meth- 
odists the  other.  The  parties  had  an  understanding  that 
they  were  not  to  preach  on  disputed  points,  or  to  interfere 
with  each  other's  sentiments. 

One  morning  the  young  Presbyterian  preacher  held  forth, 
and,  forgetful  of  the  understanding  in  regard  to  not  preaching 
on  disputed  points,  he  made  a  very  rough-shod  attack  upon 
Methodism,  and  was  very  bitter  in  his  denunciations  as  well  as 
very  incorrect  in  his  representations.  Mr.  Gruber  was  there 
and  heard  him.  When  the  minister  had  finished  his  dis- 
course, he  called  upon  Mr.  Gruber  to  conclude  by  prayer 
He  did  so ;  and  prayed  for  many  things ;  and,  as  is  customary 


JACOB  GRUBER. 


447 


he  prayed  for  the  minister.  " 0  Lord,"  said  he,  "bless  the 
preacher  who  has  preached  to  us  this  morning,  and  grant 
to  make  his  heart  as  soft  as  his  head  is,  and  then  he'll  do 
some  good." — Rev.  C.  Pitman. 

GRUBER'S  HORSE  IMMERSED. 

"  Mr.  Gruber  was  returning  from  the  Philadelphia  Conference, 
which  was  held  in  Smyrna,  Del.  He  was  in  company  with 
Rev.  Joseph  Lybrandt,  Rev.  Edward  Page,  and  several 
others.  They  all  rode  on  horseback.  As  they  journeyed 
along,  they  had  a  discussion  on  water  baptism.  Mr.  Gruber 
strongly  opposed  the  mode  of  baptism  by  immersion, 
assigning  reasons  against  it.  While  the  dispute  was  going 
on,  they  came  to  a  stream  of  water  of  considerable  size, 
which  they  must  pass  through.  They  paused  to  let  their 
horses  drink.  Father  Gruber's  horse  seemed  determined  to 
wade  into  the  deepest  water  and  then  lie  down,  immersing 
himself  and  partly  his  rider.  The  preachers  laughed  at  him 
most  heartily,  and  told  Mr.  Gruber,  if  he  did  not  believe  in 
immei-sion  his  horse  did." — Rev.  E.  Page. 

GRUBER'S  SERMON  AT  ST.  GEORGE'S,  PHILADELPHIA. 

"Mr.  Gruber  had  been  stationed  in  that  charge,  I  believe,  in 
1828,  but  for  some  cause  a  request  was  made  to  have  him 
removed  at  the  end  of  the  year,  which  was  accordingly  done, 
not  altogether  to  the  satisfaction  of  Brother  G.  At  the  end 
of  the  next  year,  while  in  attendance  at  the  Conference  in 
1830,  Brother  G.  was  appointed  to  preach  one  evening  in 
St.  George's.  He  took  for  his  text,  Psa.  Ixxxiv,  4,  *  Blessed 
are  they  that  dwell  in  thy  house  :  they  will  be  still  praising 
thee :'  and  no  doubt  recollecting  his  treatment  in  the  past, 
he  felt  disposed  to  let  his  hearers  know  it,  by  making  some 
witty  and  cutting  allusions,  &c.  The  sermon  was  well  arrang- 
ed, and  the  matter  was  in  the  general  very  instructive. 


448  THE  HEROES  OF  METHODISM. 


Under  the  head  of  the  character  of  those  who  '  dwell  in  tfte 
house  of  the  Lord^  I  distinctly  recollect  three  character- 
istics : 

'*  1.  They  are  an  humble i^eople,  w  illing  to  occupy  a  humble 
place  in  the  Church,  indeed,  any  place,  so  that  they  might 
be  permitted  to  abide  in  the  Church ;  but  there  were  some 
people  who  were  so  proud  and  ambitious  that,  unless  they 
could  be  like  the  first  king  of  Israel,  from  the  shoulders  up 
higher  than  everybody  else,  they  wouldn't  come  into  the 
house  at  all,  but  hang  about  the  doors. 

"  2.  They  were  a  contented  people.  If  everything  did  not 
exactly  suit  them,  they  made  the  best  of  it,  and  tried  to  get 
along  as  well  as  they  could,  but  there  are  many  who  are 
so  uneasy  and  fidgety  that  they  can't  dwell  in  the  Church, 
but  are  continually  running  in  and  out,  disturbing  themselves 
and  everybody  else. 

"  3.  They  icere  a  satisfied  2^^02)16,  always  finding  some- 
thing good,  and  thankful  for  it.  Let  who  would  be  their 
preacher  or  preachers,  they  could  always  get  something  that 
would  give  them  instruction  and  encouragement.  But  there 
are  some  people  who  are  never  satisfied,  but  are  always 
finding  fault  w^ith  their  preacher;  some  preach  too  loud,  and 
some  too  long,  and  some  say  so  many  hard  and  queer 
things,  and  some  are  so  prosy  and  dull,  that  they  can't  be 
fed  at  all,  and  are  never  satisfied.  If  the  multitude  that 
were  fed  by  the  Saviour,  were  like  these  people,  they  never 
would  have  been  fed.  If  one  had  cried  out  and  said,  'John 
you  shan't  feed  me,  Peter  shall  ;*  and  another  had  said, 
'  Andrew  shall  feed  me,  but  James  shan't ;'  and  another  had 
said,  '  I  want  all  bread  and  no  fish  ;'  and  others,  *  I  want  all 
fish  and  no  bread^ — how"  could  they  have  been  fed  ?  Such 
dissatisfied  people  cannot  dwell  in  the  house  of  the  Lord. 
If  they  are  not  turned  out,  they  will  soon  die  out:  they 
can't  live." — Bev.  J.  L.  Lenhart, 


JACOB  GRUBER. 


GRUBER  AND  THE  YOUNG  PREACHER. 

"As  Methodism  has  not,  till  lately,  had  any  schools  of  divin- 
ity, it  has  afforded  a  rare  field  for  originality  and  a  natural 
manner  in  the  pulpit.  But  there  are  some  natures  so  inex- 
orably perverse,  that,  escaping  from  one  fault,  they  will  in- 
continently plunge  into  another ;  hence  we  have  had  some 
of  the  most  amazing  exhibitions  in  the  Methodist  pulpit. 
Of  the  mannerisms  of  excited  speakei-s,  there  is  one  which  we 
have  sometimes  witnessed  as  the  accompaniment  of  high  in- 
spiration, and  which  we  presume  cannot  claim  endorsement 
from  the  '  ancient  writers  on  oratory.'  It  is  the  melodious 
termination  of  each  sentence  with  an  emphatic  '  ah.'  Some- 
times, when  the  speaker  waxes  mighty,  this  eloquent  ex- 
clamatory gasp  gives  an  impetus  to  each  word,  like  a  puffing 
locomotive  behind,  instead  of  before,  the  car.  Among  the 
many  humorous  anecdotes  told  of  the  late  Rev.  Jacob  Gru- 
ber,  of  Baltimore,  is  one  which  relates  to  this  point.  An 
ardent  young  orator  of  the  pulpit,  who  w^as  unconsciously 
master  of  this  exclamatory  style,  wrote  to  the  veteran  Ger- 
man for  some  counsels  respecting  his  homiletic  labours. 
The  old  preacher,  believing  that  the  correction  of  this  one 
egregious  fault  would  be  a  sufficient  achievement  for  the  time 
being,  wrote  him  the  following  laconic  letter : 

'* 'Dear  Ah  !  Brother  Ah ! — When-ah  you-ah  go- ah  to-ah 
preach-ah,  take-ah  care-ah  you-ah  don't-ah  say-ah  Ah-ah! 
Yours-ah,  Jacob-ah  Gruber-ah.' 

"  The  letter  was  a  capital  one,  as  it  not  only  stated  but 
exemplified  the  defect  in  all  its  folly.  It  was  effectually  cura- 
tive also,  if  we  have  been  rightly  informed.  Perhaps  its 
iLsertion  here  may  extend  its  remedial  virtue." — National 
Magazine. 


450 


THE  HEROES  OF  METHODISM. 


GRUBER  AND  UIS  HOSTESS. 

Mr.  Gruber's  aversion  to  tea  was  so  great  that  he  did  not 
always  observe  the  rules  of  courtesy  in  refusing  it.  On  one 
occasion,  when  a  good  lady  had  kindly  prepared  tea  for  him, 
and  oflfered  him  a  cup,  he  found  fault  with  her  so  sharply 
as  to  excite  a  little  anger  on  her  part.  "You  should," 
said  she,  "  take  the  advice  of  the  apostle,  Mr.  Gruber,  and 
eat  such  things  as  are  set  before  you,  asking  no  questions, 
for  conscience'  sake."  "  Yes,"  replied  Mr.  Gruber ;  "  but  we 
are  not  commanded  to  drink  everything  that  is  set  before  us 
for  conscience'  sake." 

GRUBER  AXD  THE  DANDY  PREACHER. 

Mr.  Gruber  was  much  opposed  to  any  show  of  dress  in  Chris 
tian  ministers.  He  was  plain  himself,  and  believed  that  an 
ambassador  of  Christ  should  be  hke  his  Master,  "  meek  and 
lowly ;"  that  he  should  be  clothed  with  humility.  He  did 
not  beheve  in  superfluities  in  any  one,  much  less  in  a 
preacher  of  the  Gospel.  On  one  of  his  circuits  he  had  a  col- 
league who  stood  high  in  his  own  estimation,  and  was  dis- 
posed to  magnify  his  oflSce.  This  minister's  deportment,  as 
well  as  his  costume,  were  so  different  from  those  of  most 
Methodist  ministers,  that  Mr.  Gruber  was  exceedingly  tried 
with  him  ;  and  said  the  minister  that  was  on  the  circuit  with 
him  was  "  the  only  dandy  he  ever  travelled  with." 

It  was  not  long  before  the  dandy  left  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church.  But  we  will  permit  Mr.  Gruber  to  tell 
his  own  story,  in  which  the  reader  cannot  fail  to  be  inter- 
ested ;  and  no  doubt,  in  conclusion,  will  pray,  from  all  such 
"dandy  preachers,"  good  Lord  deliver  us. 

"At  the  Conference  in  1825,  Bishop  George  gave  me  an 
easy  circuit — Burlington,  in  Jersey ;  but  told  me  he  under- 
stood it  was  too  small,  and  requested  me  to  enlarge  it. 


JACOB  QRUBER.  461 

"  I  had  some  painful  exercises.  My  colleague  was  a  nat- 
ural dandy.  He  took  rest  days  to  go  fishing  and  hunting. 
Some  of  the  members  requested  me  to  ask  him  to  call  and 
see  them :  some  were  sick.  He  went  past  their  houses,  with 
gun,  dandies,  and  dogs,  but  did  not  call.  When  I  spoke  to 
him  about  it,  he  said  he  did  not  go  to  see  those  who  did  not 
send  for  him,  or  invite  him.  I  told  him  they  had  not  in- 
vited us  to  the  circuit ;  but,  as  we  were  sent,  they  would 
expect  us  to  do  our  duty  as  Methodist  preachers.  He  said 
he  would  go  to  see  such  as  sent  for  him.  I  asked  him  if  the 
birds  and  fishes  had  sent  for  him,  when  he  went  after  them. 
He  said  he  did  not  answer  such  questions.  He  got  himself 
a  gig  to  ride  in,  as  the  road  was  sandy  and  level.  He  had  a 
good  young  horse,  excellent  to  ride,  but  not  so  good  in  a  gig : 
he  would  stop,  or  go  backward,  instead  of  forward.  Some- 
times an  old  man  and  woman  would  have  to  help  to  pull  and 
push  on  and  off  the  horse,  gig  and  preacher,  to  get  him  along 
to  his  appointments.  However,  instead  of  getting  a  saddle, 
and  riding  as  a  young  man  ought  to  do,  he  let  a  man  have 
his  young  horse  for  a  mare  not  so  young,  and  gave  him  his 
note  for  about  forty  dollars  to  pay  for  value  received,  when 
the  man,  not  long  after,  would  not  have  given  the  horse  for 
the  mare.  So  much  for  dandy  economy.  However,  he  had 
the  honour  of  gigging  about  in  style.  It  was  said,  in  one 
place,  he  drove  up  to  a  gate.  A  man  came  out  to  ask  what 
was  wanting,  when  the  preacher  asked  for  a  coal  of  fire  to 
light  his  cigar.  The  man  brought  the  fire,  and  the  preacher 
oifered  him  a  cigar ;  but  the  man  would  not  take  it,  but 
said, '  I  don't  serve  the  devil  in  that  way.'  But  the  best  and 
the  last  of  the  dandy  preacher  was,  that  in  a  few  years  he 
turned  reformer,  (no  one  needed  reform  more ;)  and  it  is  to 
be  hoped  he  cured  himself  with  '  number  six,'  instead  of 
tobacco ;  and,  as  chaplain  or  high  priest  of  the  grand  lodge, 
did  himself  honour.  So  mote  it  be.  I  never  was  so  unfor- 
tunate before  as  to  have  a  dandy  sportsman  for  my  colleague, 
and  never  wish  to  have  one  again.  There  was  one  Sovereign, 
20 


452  THE  HEROES  OF  METHODISM. 


one  King,  and  only  one  real  Dandy  in  the  conference."* — 
J.  Gruber. 

GRUBER  CATCHING  A  TADPOLE. 

The  following  anecdote  was  related  to  me  some  years  ago  by 
the  late  Dr.  Pitman,  when  in  one  of  his  pleasant  moods. 

"Jacob  Gruber  was  holding  an  evening  meeting  at  a  cer- 
tain place,  and  he  invited  penitents  forward.  One  came  for- 
ward in  deep  distress  of  mind.  Mr.  Gruber  never  liked  to 
leave  a  contrite  one  until  the  broken  heart  was  bound  up. 
This  time  he  continued  the  meeting  very  late,  and  they 
prayed  earnestly  for  the  conversion  of  the  man.  At  last  a 
brother  inquired,  'if  he  did  not  know  that  man  at  the  altar 
for  prayers  had  been  drinking  too  much  liquor  V  He  said 
'he  thought  not.'  'Then  go  smell  his  breath,'  said  the 
man,  '  and  you  will  be  satisfied.'  He  did  so,  and  found  the 
man  was  quite  spiritual.  He  took  hold  of  his  arm,  and  told 
him  to  rise,  and  he  walked  with  him  deliberately  to  the  door, 
and  opened  it,  and  said  to  the  man,  '  You  can  go,  sir ;'  and 
turning  round,  he  said,  '  Brethren,  we  read  that  the  disciples 
toiled  all  night  and  caught  nothing ;  we  have  toiled  till  twelve 
o'clock,  and  caught  a  tadpole?  Thus  ended  the  evening 
service." 

GRUBER  SEATING  THE  PEOPLE  AT  CAMP-MEETINGS. 

"  Mr.  Gruber  once  attended  a  camp-meeting  where  there  was 
a  difficulty  in  getting  the  people  seated.  The  horn  had  blown 
for  preaching,  and  the  presiding  elder  was  trying  to  induce 
the  people  to  take  seats.    Very  courteously  he  said,  'The 

^  The  Philadelphia  Conference  was  not  then  divided,  and  he 
plays  a  little  upon  the  names  of  some  of  the  members — Rev. 
Thomas  Sovereign,  Rev.  H.  G.  King,  and  Rev.  James  H.  Dandy — 
all  good  men  and  true,  who  still  war  with  the  enemies  of  unright- 
eousness. 


JACOB  GRUBER. 


453 


gentlemen  will  be  kind  enough  to  take  seats  on  the  right, 
and  the  ladies  on  the  left.'  But  he  made  no  impression  on 
them.  Mr.  Gruber  jumped  up;  said  he,  'Let  me  try.'  He 
then  said,  'Presiding  elder,  you  called  them  "gentlemen 
and  ladies ;"  they  did  n't  know  what  you  meant.  Boys,  come 
i-ight  along  and  take  seats  here  ;  Gals,  come  along  and  take 
seats  there.^  It  was  said  in  such  a  comical  way,  that  all  were 
delighted  with  his  oddity,  and  smiling,  they  immediately 
complied  with  his  request,  and  the  minister  proceeded  with 
his  sermon." — D.  Ostrander. 

"  At  another  camp-meeting  they  found  it  exceeding  diffi- 
cult to  get  the  people  seated.  A  number  of  ladies  were 
standing  on  the  seats,  and  refused  to  comply  with  a  request 
that  was  perfectly  reasonable.  Mr.  Gruber  said,  'If  that 
young  lady  standing  on  the  bench  knew  what  a  great  hole 
she  has  in  her  stocking,  she  would  certainly  sit  down.' 
They,  not  knowing  who  he  meant,  each  supposed  that  he 
meant  her,  and  they  all  sat  down  suddenly,  as  quick  as 
possible. 

"  A  preacher,  after  the  discourse,  asked  him  if  he  saw  a 
hole  in  one  of  their  stockings  ?  He  said,  '  No.'  '  How  dare 
you  say  so  then  V  Said  Mr.  Gruber,  in  his  quizzical  man- 
ner, '  Did  you  ever  know  a  stocking  without  a  hole  in  it  V  " 
— Rev.  Edward  Page. 

GRUBER  REQUESTED  TO  PREACH  "NICE  AND  FINE." 

When  Mr.  Gruber  preached  in  Camden,  New-Jersey,  his 
preaching  was,  as  usual,  plain  and  pointed :  he  wrapped  no 
silk  around  the  sword  of  the  Spirit,  for  fear  it  would  be  too 
sharp. 

Some  thought  its  edge  was  too  keen,  and  requested  the  re- 
cording steward  to  speak  to  Brother  Gruber,  and  desire  him  to 
be  more  particular  and  systematic  in  his  discourses.  "  Ah !  very 
well,  brother,  you  want  me  to  preach  very  nice  and  fine  when 
I  come  to  Camden  among  the  fashionable  people :  I  '11  try." 


454  THE  HEROES  OF  METHODISM. 


When  he  came  round  again,  the  house  was  crowded,  to  hear 
Brother  Gruber  preach  "  nice  and  fine.''  The  discourse  was 
arranged  in  the  most  logical  order,  delivered  in  correct  style, 
and  showed  his  capability  to  preach  systematically ;  but 
such  a  scorching  as  those  nice,  smooth  sentences,  and  well- 
arranged  divisions,  and  masterly  arguments,  all  combined  to 
execute  upon  any  deficient  in  the  requisites  of  perfect  piety, 
such  a  beautiful  scorching  as  "  Jacob"  sent  to  those  deserv- 
ing it  that  day,  did  not  require  a  repetition. 

After  that  day  Mr.  Gruber  was  permitted  to  preach  in 
his  ovm  way,  without  suggestions  or  dictations. — Rev,  G.  A. 
JRayhold. 

GRUBER  DID  NOT  LOVE  TO  STEAL. 

Not  long  before  his  death,  Mr.  Gruber  sent  a  communication 
to  the  Book  Room,  in  which  he  commented  upon  one  of  the 
hymns  in  the  new  book.  He  said  he  did  not  like  the  hymn 
which  commences 

"  I  love  to  steal  awhile  away.'' 

He  said  there  was  no  truth  in  it.  He  did  not  love  to  steal. 
He  did  not  love  to  steal,  at  home  nor  "  away  "  from  home. 
This  was  his  method  of  showing  his  dislike  for  this  hymn. 
Perhaps  he  would  have  disliked  it  worse,  if  he  had  known 
what  awkward  work  would  have  been  made  in  singing  it. 
It  is  said  that  a  minister  in  Bridgeport,  Connecticut,  gave 
out  this  hymn.  The  chorister  commenced  singing,  "I  love 
to  steal,"  but  did  not  get  the  right  tune ;  so  he  commenced 
again,  "  I  love  to  steal " — wrong  tune  yet ;  again  he  repeated 
"  I  love  to  steal,"  with  no  better  success.  The  minister  said, 
"  It  is  to  be  regretted,  brother.  Let  us  pray."  The  minister 
did  not  mean  that  he  regretted  that  the  chorister  had  a  pro- 
pensity for  stealing;  but  that  he  was  unable  to  set  the  tune. 
The  same  thing  occurred  in  a  class-meeting  connected  with  the 
church  of  which  I  am  pastor.  A  brother  commenced  singing 
*'  I  love  to  steal,"  but  he  could  not  get  the  right  tune ;  and  he 


JACOB  GRUBER. 


kept  trying,  repeating,  "I  love  to  steal — I  love  to  steal — I  love 
to  steal  awhile."  It  was  too  much  for  the  gravity  of  the  class. 
A  circle  of  smiles  went  all  around;  the  brother  who  was 
trjing  to  sing  also  smiled,  and  gave  it  up,  after  testifying  to 
his  love  for  stealing.  These  examples  may  show  that  the 
shrewd  old  German  was  right  in  his  dislike  to  the  hymn 
that  commences  with  such  a  singular  declaration  as  this ; 
"  I  love  to  steal." 

GRUBER  MISQUOTING  A  TEXT. 

To  the  late  lamented  Dr.  Pitman  I  am  indebted  for  the  fol- 
lowing incident : 

Mr.  Gruber  was  preaching  in  Smyrna,  Delaware,  during 
the  session  of  the  Philadelphia  Annual  Conference.  He 
took  his  text  from  1  John,  iii,  2  :  "  Now  are  we  the  sons  of 
God,  and  it  doth  not  yet  appear  what  we  shall  be,"  &c.  He 
read  it,  "  Now  are  we  the  children  of  God,"  &c.  A  young 
brother,  seated  near  the  altar,  thought  he  would  correct  his 
mistake,  and  cried  out,  "  Now  are  we  the  sons  of  God."  Mr. 
Gruber  paused,  and  gave  the  young  man  a  significant  look ; 
and  then,  in  his  own  peculiar  style,  said,  with  a  kind  of  lisp, 
"  I  guess  I  know  that  as  well  as  you  do ;  but  I  did  not  wish 
to  exclude  our  beloved  sisters,  and  therefore  I  said  children 
instead  of  sons."  His  tone  of  voice,  his  look,  his  manner, 
almost  annihilated  the  young  man;  while  the  preachers 
were  so  amused  that  the  gravest  of  them  could  not  be  grave ; 
and  some  of  them,  as  they  could  not  contain  themselves, 
were  obliged  to  leave  the  house  and  myself  among  the 
number. 

GRUBER  AND  HIS  LEFT-HANDED  FRIENDS. 

In  1828,  Mr.  Gruber  was  stationed  in  St.  George's,  Philadel- 
phia ;  and  his  left-handed  friends,  as  he  called  them,  had  him 
removed  at  the  expiration  of  the  first  year.  He  then  went  to 
New-Jersey.    He  was  never  partial  to  that  State  ;  he  called 


466  THE  HEROES  OF"  METHODISM. 


it  "  the  land  of  peaches  and  sweet  potatoes."  He  wished  his 
left-handed  friends  to  understand  that  he  had  not  forgotten 
them. 

"  I  finished  my  work  as  well  as  I  could  in  the  charge ;  but 
when  conference  came  my  presiding  elder  had  not  much  to 
say  for  me.  However,  Dr.  S.,  and  some  who  were  intimate 
with  Bishop  R.,  told  me  that  wrong  statements  had  been 
made  to  the  bishops,  and  before  they  knew  better  they  had 
committed  themselves ;  so  my  appointment  came  out  for 
Gloucester  circuit  in  1829.  Some  said  it  was  the  hardest 
circuit  in  the  Jersey  district,  a  large  four  weeks*  circuit ;  but 
I  had  an  excellent  colleague,  brother  Greenbank,  in  his  first 
year.  We  laboured  harmoniously  and  successfully  together. 
We  had  a  good  work  pretty  generally  through  the  circuit. 
We  laboured  hard,  but  not  in  vain.  We  had  a  good  reward 
in  hand,  in  heart,  and  yet  to  come,  when  all  is  done. 

"One  time,  on  my  way  to  see  my  family,  riding  along 
the  street  through  the  city,  one  of  my  left-handed  friends 
spoke  to  me,  and  said,  among  other  things,  that  I  was  riding 
a  very  fine  horse.  I  answered,  '  There  is  no  knowing  what  a 
poor  fellow  may  come  to.  There  has  been  a  great  change ; 
last  year  I  was  here  in  the  city,  had  to  walk  every  day,  labour 
harder  than  a  slave,  was  kicked  away  Hke  a  dog — and  now 
I  ride  like  a  gentleman.    Farewell.'  " 

GKUBER'S  REBUKE  OF  VANITY  IN  A  YOUNG 
PREACHER. 

Mr.  Gruber  detested  clerical  pride  and  vanity.  Perhaps  he 
was  sometimes  too  severe  on  young  preachers,  because  they 
did  not  come  up  to  his  standard.  In  1829  a  camp-meeting 
was  held  in  Chester  circuit,  Pennsylvania,  in  a  grove  near 
West-Chester.  Many  preachers  were  there.  A  young  tal- 
ented brother  preached  twice,  and  preached  able  sermons. 
Father  Gruber  thought  he  was  "pufi'ed  up,"  and  he  con- 
cluded he  would  try  and  lessen  his  dimensions.  Several 
ministers  were  in  the  preacher's  tent.    Father  Gruber  was 


JACOB  GRUBER. 


457 


there,  and  the  preacher  who  had  expounded  the  word.  Mr. 
Gruber  related  in  the  presence  of  this  preacher,  and  what 
was  supposed  to  be  at  the  time  for  his  special  benefit,  an  in- 
cident which  took  place  at  a  camp-meeting  near  Baltimore. 
He  said,  "A  young  minister  was  there  and  preached,  and 
no  one  said  anything  about  the  sermon,  either  criticizing, 
commending,  or  condemning.  So  the  young  man  went  into 
the  preacher's  tent  and  introduced  the  matter  by  saying, 
'  Brethren,  I  never  preached  from  that  text  before,  and  never 
heard  it  preached  from,  and  I  do  not  know  what  you  think 
of  my  arrangement  V  Then  that  shrewd  old  man,  who  was 
a  discerner  of  spirits,  Rev.  Joshua  Wells,  replied,  '  If  you 
had  said  nothing  about  it,  I  should  not,  but  since  you  in- 
quire, I'll  give  you  my  opinion ;  it  is  this,  it  was  like  a  mess 
of  tadpoles,  all  heads  and  no  tails.'  Thus  the  young 
preacher  stood  reproved  in  the  presence  of  his  brethren,  and 
anxious  to  have  something  said  about  his  discourse,  some- 
thing was  said,  exceedingly  mortifying  to  ministerial  pride." 

As  soon  as  Mr.  Gruber  had  related  this,  and  the  young 
man  was  making  the  application,  a  local  preacher  well  ac- 
quainted with  Mr.  Gruber,  said  to  him,  "  Father  Gruber, 
how  came  you  to  be  so  much  like  the  young  man  you  have 
described  in  your  preaching  yesterday  ?"  Father  Gruber, 
not  at  all  disconcerted,  replied,  "  Why,  I  knew  the  people 
here  did  not  like  flesh  nor  fish,  so  I  thought  I  would  give 
them  a  mess  of  tadpoles."  He  had  the  day  before  taken  a 
strong  stand  against  depending  on  the  "  internal  light,"  on 
which  the  Quakers  lay  so  much  stress.  His  text  was, 
"  Take  heed,  therefore,  that  the  light  which  is  in  thee  be  not 
darkness,"  &c. 

f 

GRUBER  AND  THE  REFORMERS. 

"In  the  year  1828,  I  was  stationed  in  Philadelphia.  The 
station  embraced  St.  George's,  Ebenezer,  Salem,  and  Naza- 
reth churches.    There  were  four  of  us,  Brothers  Doughty, 


458 


THE  HEKOES  OF  METHODISM. 


Scott,  Thompson,  and  myself.  Brother  S.  Doughty  had 
the  charge,  having  been  there  the  year  before.  He 
boarded  near  St.  George's;  my  boarding-house  was  near 
Ebenezer.  Brother  Doughty  died  after  harvest.  Three  of 
us  had  to  do  the  work  of  four  the  most  part  of  the  year. 
The  labour  was  hard,  preaching,  classes  to  meet,  and  other 
meetings  to  attend,  the  sick  to  visit  day  and  night.  Some 
said  I  attended  more  funerals  than  any  preacher  in  the  city ; 
almost  at  every  one's  beck  and  call ;  but  the  Lord  helped 
me,  and  I  got  along,  with  fear  and  trembling,  better  than  I 
expected.  Having  charge  after  the  death  of  Brother 
Doughty,  knowing  something  about  the  station,  and  how 
critical  and  contrary  some  were,  we  got  along  with  tolerable 
peace  and  quiet,  had  good  meetings,  and  some  success.  In 
a  quarterly  conference  I  unfortunately  appealed  from  the  de- 
cision of  the  presiding  elder,  a  good  little  man.  He  took 
it  as  a  great  offence,  and  remembered  me  at  another  time, 
in  some  other  way.  In  this  year  the  great  reform  took 
place  in  Baltimore,  which  was  '  the  match  to  set  fire  to 
the  train  laid  from  Georgia  to  Maine,  to  blow  up  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church.'  Word  came  to  Philadelphia 
that  many  local  preachers  were  expelled,  and  many  private 
members  had  left  the  Church,  and  that  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church  was  ruined  by  tyrannical  preachers,  (fee. 
Some  came  to  me  inquiring  whether  we  had  not  better  call 
an  official  meeting  to  express  our  views  about  the  Baltimore 
excitement  and  doings,  and  guard  our  own  rights.  Some 
spoke  and  wrote  much  about  '  mutual  rights,'  and  were  do- 
ing mutual  wrong  all  the  time.  I  told  them  we  would 
mind  our  own  business.  I  was  acquainted  in  Baltimore 
with  the  head  men  among  the  reformers ;  let  them  reform 
what  they  can  :  but,  said  I,  if  we  were  to  hear  that  a  fire 
had  broken  out  .in  Baltimore,  should  we  ring  the  fire-bells 
in  this  city  and  get  the  fire  companies  out  ?  No,  let  us  wait 
till  the  fire  breaks  out  here,  then  ring  the  fire-bells  and  go 
to  work  to  put  out  the  fire,  and  take  care  and  add  no  fuel. 


JACOB  GKUBER. 


459 


After  a  while,  a  local  preacher  told  me,  he  would  leave  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  I  said,  We  are  in  a  free  coun- 
try. Soon  after  another  local  preacher  went  to  the  pre- 
siding elder,  and  got  a  certificate,  and  went  away  from  us ; 
and  some  of  the  members  went  too ;  but,  altogether,  not 
more  than  about  twenty,  while  I  was  in  the  station.  At  a 
distance  it  was  reported  that  a  great  many  had  left  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church  in  the  city,  preachers  and  mem- 
bers. When  some  inquired  of  me  how  many  preachers  had 
gone  from  us,  I  told  exactly.  They  were  'Cramer  and 
Cropper,  and  then  it  was  Dunn,'  that  is,  altogether  three. 
I  understood  they  did  not  harmonize  together  long,  neither 
preachers  nor  members.  The  preachers  wanted  to  be  bish- 
ops or  something  else,  and  the  members  did  not  like  to 
be  Crammed,  nor  Cropped,  nor  Dunned,  so  their  meeting- 
house was  shut  up,  or  sold,  or — it  is  none  of  my  business 
what." 


GRUBER'S  TEMPERANCE  LECTURE. 

"  In  1 830  my  appointment  was  on  Salem  circuit.  It  included 
a  tolerably  large  space  of  country,  Salem  and  other  towns. 
Here  I  found  my  old  friend.  Father  T.  Ware,  who  gave  me 
my  first  licence  to  preach,  and  took  my  recommendation  to 
the  Philadelphia  Conference.  Sister  Ware's  first  husband 
took  me  into  society. 

"  When  in  Salem,  one  evening,  the  president  of  the  tem- 
perance society  requested  me  to  go  with  him  to  a  meeting. 
A  young  Baptist  preacher  read  a  piece  very  severe  against 
rum-drinking,  stating  how  it  ruined  families,  men  of  talents, 
doctors,  lawyers,  and  even  ministers ;  how  it  defiled  courts, 
and  even  churches  and  pulpits.  He  read  hard  words ;  and, 
when  he  was  done,  the  president  said  if  any  stranger  had 
anything  to  say,  there  was  time.  I  took  the  hint,  and,  as  a 
stranger,  made  a  few  remarks,  stating  that  severe  things  had 
been  said  against  drinking,  and  it  would  be  a  kindness  to 


460  THE  HEROES  OF  METHODISM. 


point  out  a  course  to  prevent  thirst,  and  to  give  advice  to 
such  as  were  almost  continually  under  a  salivation.  Churches 
were  polluted  by  rum-drinkers,  and  so  they  were  by  some 
who  use  a  stimulus  called  tobacco.  Look  on  the  floor  of  a 
church,  on  the  men's  side,  if  you  have  a  strong  stomach  ! 
See,  see !  spatteration  !  slaveration  !  fi  !  fi  I  Where  did  all 
that  come  from  ?  From  the  drainings  of  a  dung-hill  ?  Xo, 
no ;  be  decent ;  don't  tell !  Look  in  some  pulpits  and  see 
self-denial,  or  can  you  only  hear  it  ?  Well,  faith  comes  by 
hearing ;  but  the  best  sermon  a  preacher  can  preach  would 
have  no  relish  for  some  if  it  was  not  seasoned  by  tobacco. 
As  soon  as  the  preacher  takes  his  text,  some  take  a  chew 
to  brighten  their  ideas,  and  spice  what  they  hear.  Why  not 
allow  another  poor  fellow  to  take  out  of  his  pocket  a  flask, 
and  take  a  dram,  to  brighten  his  ideas  and  stimulate  his 
devotion  ?  While  I  was  dropping  my  hints  there  was  a 
wonderful  wiping,  not  of  eyes,  but  of  mouths.  I  was  not 
invited  to  speak  again  in  that  place  about  either  rum  or 
tobacco." 


GRUBER  A2sD  JOHN  ENGLISH. 

When  Jacob  Gruber  travelled  Cumberland  circuit,  in 
West  Jersey,  a  man  by  the  name  of  John  English  resided 
there,  who  was  a  member  of  the  Church,  and  applied  for 
licence  to  preach.  It  was  concluded  that  if  he  had  "grace," 
he  had  not  "  gifts,"  and  the  application  was  not  granted. 
He  was  exceedingly  dissatisfied  to  think  his  talents  were  not 
appreciated ;  and  he  resolved  to  leave  the  Church,  and  go 
where  he  could  obtain  licence.  He  applied  to  Mr.  Gruber, 
stating,  that  for  fifteen  years  he  had  been  dissatisfied  with 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  ;  with  its  government,  with 
its  bishops,  its  presi<ting  elders,  as  well  as  the  circuit  preach- 
ers. Mr.  Gruber  told  him,  "  At  the  church,  to-morrow,  we 
will  attend  to  your  certificate."  After  he  had  preached  and 
met  the  class,  Mr.  Gruber  introduced  the  case  of  Mr.  English. 


JACOB  GRUBER. 


461 


Said  he,  "  My  brethren  and  sisters,  here  is  John  English,  who 
has  been  for  fifteen  years  dissatisfied  with  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal Church ;  all  you  who  are  opposed  to  his  withdrawing 
rise  up."  No  one  rose  up.  Turning  to  John  English,  says 
he, "  There,  your'e  outP  Said  Mr.  English,  "  I  would  like  my 
certificate."  Said  Mr.  Gruber,  "  I  will  call  and  leave  it  to-mor- 
row." The  next  day  Mr.  Gruber  rode  up  before  his  door,  on 
horseback,  and  Mr.  English  invited  him  to  come  in ;  but  he 
could  not  stay,  the  "  King's  business  required  haste."  "  Here 
is  your  certificate,  sir,"  said  Mr.  Gruber.  Mr.  English,  with 
surprise,  read  the  following : 

"  This  certifies  that  the  bearer,  John  English,  has  been  for 
fifteen  years  a  dissatisfied  member  of  the  Methodist  Episco- 
pal Church,  and  has  withdrawn  on  the        day  of 
in  1832.  "J.  Gruber, 

"  Preacher  in  Charge." 

Mr.  English  said  he  did  not  want  any  such  certificate  as 
that;  but  he  wanted  one  to  certify  his  standing  in  the 
Church.  Said  Mr.  Gruber,  "Does  not  that  certificate  tell 
the  truth  ?  Did  you  not  tell  me  that  for  fifteen  years  you 
had  been  dissatisfied  with  the  Church."  "  Certainly,"  said 
Mr.  English.  Mr.  Gruber  replied,  "  Then,  as  that  certificate 
tells  the  truth,  you  have  no  cause  of  complaint,  and  can 
have  no  other,"  and  rode  off. 

Mr.  English  joined  the  Protestant  Methodist  Church.  He 
made  application  for  licence  to  preach,  and  they  granted  it. 
Oft  have  they  done  it  to  their  sorrow,  by  licencing  men  who  left 
us,  because  we  chose  to  hurt  their  feelings  by  refusing  rather 
than  licencing  them,  and  sent  them  out  to  hurt  the  feelings  of 
almost  all  who  listened  to  them.  After  he  was  licenced  there, 
he  wished  to  be  received  into  the  travelling  connexion ;  but 
they  had  discovered  that  he  had  no  talents  for  the  work,  that 
he  never  could  sustain  himself,  that  he  would  injure  himself, 
and  injure  the  cause,  and  they  refused  to  admit  him.  This 


462 


THE  HEROES  OF  METHODISM. 


displeased  him  about  as  much  as  the  refusal  to  hcence  Lira  to 
preach  ;  and  as  he  saw  many  things  in  that  Church  that  did 
not  please  him,  he  became  a  dissatisfied  member  of  it,  and 
came  back  to  his  old  mother  Church,  asking  to  be  received 
simply  as  a  private  member;  willing  to  take  the  lowest  place, 
to  sit  at  the  feet  of  his  brethren  and  learn,  giving  up  all  idea 
of  preaching  as  a  local  or  traveUing  preacher.  He  came 
back  one  of  the  most  humble,  childlike  men,  and  lived  and 
died  an  humble  Christian. — Rev.  Sedgxoicic  Russling. 

GRUBER'S  DESCRIPTION  OF  "FEEBLE  CHRISTIANS." 

He  was  preaching  on  Dauphin  Circuit,  and  he  showed  how 
some  ought  to  be  men  that  are  children — babes.  He  said, 
"There  are  a  great  many  people  in  the  Church,  who  have 
been  in  it  a  long  time,  that  ought  to  be  able  to  be  fed  with 
meat;  but  they  are  so  feeble  they  can  only  endure  milk ;  and 
they  cannot  endure  pure  milk,  they  must  have  it  well  wa- 
tered, and  administered  to  them  in  very  small  quantities  with 
a  tea-spoon.  They  must  be  some  relation  to  the  '  conies,' 
which  are  described  by  the  Psalmist  as  a  '  very  feeble  folk.' " 
— Rev.  G.  D.  Bowen. 

GRUBER'S  CONVERT. 

On  Dauphin  circuit,  a  young  lady  who  had  been  converted 
through  his  instrumentality,  and  whom  he  had  received  into 
the  Church,  approached  him,  smiling.  She  was  dressed  most 
fashionably.  When  she  had  told  him  who  she  was,  and  the 
relation  he  sustained  to  her  as  her  spiritual  father,  he  replied, 
"  I  thought  you  were  one  of  my  converts  ;  if  you  were  the 
Lord's,  you  would  not  be  dressed  so  fine,  nor  have  those 
posies  in  your  hat." 

GRUBER  ON  BORROWED  PHRASES. 

"Why  do  Methodists  trespass  on  other  denominational 
phrases?    'Why  do  we  hear,  or  read,  of  'session  rooms' 


JACOB  GRL'BER. 


463 


for  our  members  ?  Why  do  we  read  of  a  member  coming 
into  a  circuit,  or  station,  *  by  letter  V  Why  not  say,  '  by 
certificate  V  Why  do  we  read  about  a  number  being  '  hope- 
fully converted  ?'  Do  we  hope,  or  do  they  hope  ?  or  who  is 
full  of  it  ?  Is  it  not  better  to  be  filled  with  'joy  and  peace 
in  believing?'  Another  thing  ;  Why  have  we  had  so  much 
about  parsonages,  parsonages  ?  It  will  be  a  dark  and  stormy 
day  when  the  Methodist  preachers  all  become  parsons. 
Would  it  not  be  more  agreeable  to  many  of  our  members, 
and  to  our  economy,  to  say  preacher'^ s  house  ?  I  hope  you 
will  not  think  hard  of  my  queries.  I  would  write  something 
about  the  support  of  the  ministry,  and  not  forget  the  local 
parsons  ;  but  fear  many  would  say,  '  We  have  had  too  much 
on  that  subject  already ;  peace,  let  us  have  a  little  rest  in 
these  hard  times.'  I  would  like  to  give  several  hints,  about 
several  things ;  but  this  is  a  cloudy  day.  I  remain,  your 
old-fashioned  friend, — J.  GruherJ'' 


GRUBER  AND  THE  "LONG  SHORT  DRESSES." 

"  '  Father  Gruber,'  it  is  well  known,  was  rather  a  stickler  for 
plainness  in  everything,  and  especially  in  apparel.  Nothing 
could  be  more  offensive  to  him  than  any,  even  the  least, 
disposition  to  copy  the  fashions  of  the  world.  Thirty-five 
or  forty  years  since,  when  presiding  elder,  he  attended  a 
camp-meeting  held  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Franklin,  Ven- 
ango County,  Pennsylvania.  It  was  about  the  time  a  cer-  . 
tain  kind  of  female  attire,  then  known  as  the  ^petticoat  and 
habit^  came  first  into  fashionable,  and  then  general,  use. 
The  latter  article  somewhat  resembled  a  gentleman's  coatee, ' 
and,  associated  with  the  other  garment,  rather  tended  to 
a  graceful  display  of  the  female  form.  Some  of  the  *  better 
sort '  of  Methodist  young  ladies,  dressed  after  the  new  fashion, 
attended  the  camp-meeting  in  question.  Their  appearance 
attracted  the  by  no  means  favourable  regards  of  the  presiding 
elder.    So  displeased  was  he,  indeed,  that  he  determined,  if 


464 


THE  HEROES  OF  METHODISM. 


possible,  to  inflict  upon  them  a  public  mortification.  The 
opportunity  soon  occurred.  During  some  of  the  social  exer- 
cises, these  young  fashionables^  grouped  together,  were  sing- 
ing a  hymn  very  popular  in  those  days,  but  much  less  so,  I 
am  happy  to  say,  in  these  modern  times,  of  which  the  last 
line  of  each  verse  was  a  kind  of  chorus,  *  I  want  to  get  to 
heaven,  my  long  sought  rest ;'  in  which  they  were  most 
cordially  joined  by  the  presiding  elder.  They  perceived  him 
in  their  midst :  and,  inspired  by  the  presence  of  so  distin- 
guished a  functionary,  sang  on  with  more  than  ordinary  zeal 
and  pathos.  At  length,  however,  it  was  discovered  by  those 
standing  next  to  him,  that  when  the  presiding  elder  came  to 
the  closing  line  of  the  verse,  instead  of  '  following  copy,'  as 
the  printers  say,  he  sang,  '  I  want  to  get  to  heaven,  with  my 
long^  short  dress  /'  As  fast  as  they  detected  the  variation, 
they  stopped  singing ;  first  one,  then  another,  and  then  an- 
other, till  all  had  ceased  save  the  elder.  But  so  far  was  he 
from  stopping,  that  he  really  seemed  to  acquire  momentum 
from  progress;  so  that  when  he  had  engrossed  the  entire 
attention  of  the  whole  social  circle,  he  was  still  singing  at 
the  top  of  his  voice,  and  to  the  unutterable  chagrin  and 
mortification  of  the  young  sisters,  '  I  want  to  get  to  heaven, 
with  my  long,  short  dress  /'  It  is  hardly  necessary  to  add, 
that  the  '  long  short  dresses '  were  quite  scarce  during  the 
rest  of  the  meeting."  Zeta. 


GRUBER  ATTENDING  TO  THE  ELEVENTH  COMMAND- 
MENT. 

Mr.  Gruber  was  on  his  way  to  be  married  to  Mrs.  Martin, 
his  second  wife.  A  brother  who  had  talked  much  about 
the  affair,  and  tried  to  prevent  the  "  mat<;h,"  met  Mr.  Gru- 
ber, knew  on  what  errand  he  was  going,  and  thought  he 
would  quiz  him  a  little.  He  inquired,  "Brother  Gruber, 
where  are  you  going  ?"    Said  he,  "  I  am  going  to  attend  to 


JACOB  GRUBER.  465 

the  eleventh  commandment,  '  Mind  your  own  business.'' " 
He  then  drove  on  adding  no  more,  and  very  soon,  Mrs.  Mar- 
tin was  Mrs.  Gruber.— G.  D.  Bowen. 

GRUBER'S  LAST  INTERVIEW  WITH  BISHOP  ASBURY. 

"  The  last  time  I  saw  Bishop  Asbury,  was  among  the  Alle- 
ghany Mountains,  not  a  year  before  he  went  to  heaven. 
He  was  going  out  to  the  West,  and  I  was  coming  East.  He 
stopped.  I  tied  my  hoi-se  to  a  tree,  went  and  sat  with  him 
in  his  carriage,  and  talked  about  half  an  hour.  I  shall 
never  forget  his  earnest  look  and  expressions,  such  as,  '  O, 
if  I  was  young  I  would  cry  aloud  !  I  would  lift  up  my  voice 
like  a  trumpet !  O,  what  pride,  conformity  to  the  world, 
and  following  its  fashions  !  Many  of  our  people  are  going 
to  ruin.  Warn  them,  warn  them,  while  you  have  strength 
and  time.  Be  faithful  to  do  your  duty.'  I  parted  with  him 
while  he  asked  the  Lord  to  bless  me.  I  had  many  tears  to 
wipe  from  my  eyes,  fearing  I  never  should  see  him  again  in 
time.  O  may  I  get  near  enough  to  see  him  in  heaven ! 
Amen." — J.  Gruher. 

GRUBER  ON  HIGH  HEADS  AND  ENORMOUS  BONNETS. 

"  We  have  no  love-feast  tickets  here  to  give  our  members, 
as  they  have  in  the  city,  but  we  have  the  discipline,  which 
forbids  giving  tickets  to  those  who  wear  high  heads,  enor- 
mous bonnets,  ruffles,  or  rings.  How  do  preachers  or  mem- 
bers get  over  that  in  the  city  ?  Or  how  do  they  explain  the 
rule  ?  May  I  write  how  some  explained  it  in  old  times ; 
high  heads  meant  three  story  hats,  one  story  for  the  head, 
another  for  the  pocket-handkerchief,  and  the  third  for  a  few 
dozen  cigars.  Enormous  bonnets  were  some  things  for 
women's  heads,  so  large  and  enormously  ugly,  that  it  took 
more  than  a  yard  of  something  to  cover  them,  or  to  keep 
the  wind  from  blowing  them  away.    High  heads  have  pass- 


466 


THE  HEROES  OF  METHODISM. 


ed  away  and  flat  heads  are  in  their  place.  Little,  little 
things  in  the  place  of  enormous  bonnets,  not  large  enough 
to  shade  the  nose,  so  a  shade  has  to  be  carried  over  it 
Ruffles  are  almost  as  silly  and  needless  as  artificials  and 
bows,  and  rings  are  as  round,  wrong,  and  needless  as  ever 
they  were  in  this  world." — J.  Gruher. 

GRUBER'S  ACCOUNT  OF  HIS  CIRCUIT  WHEN  IN  HIS 
SEVENTIETH  YEAR. 

There  is  something  lovely  in  the  appearance  of  an  aged 
minister  of  the  Gospel,  an  old  hero  of  a  hundred  battles, 
still  wielding  the  sword  of  the  Spirit ;  still  conquering  new 
enemies,  achieving  new  victories,  gathering  fresh  laurels. 
How  beautiful  was  Paul  the  aged,  the  hero  of  heroes.  We 
look  upon  the  aged  Wesley,  and  Asbuiy  at  work  till  the 
last  hour,  with  profound  admiration  ;  and  who  can  read  this 
letter  of  the  old  veteran,  Gruber,  who  had  plenty  of  means 
on  which  he  could  retire,  still  as  zealous  and  active  as  ever ; 
never  thinking  of  resting  till  he  rested  in  Abraham's  bosom, 
never  thinking  of  locating,  till  he  located  in  the  neighbour- 
hood of  the  throne  of  God. 

"  My  circuit  (Shirleysburg)  is  not  large,  sixteen  or  seventeen 
appointments  for  four  weeks.  A  few  extra  ones  we  took  in. 
We  found  some  complaints  about  disappointments  in  time 
past,  and,  to  remove  fears  for  time  to  come,  I  told  them  they 
might  dock  me  five  dollars  for  every  disappointment  I  made 
on  the  circuit.  I  am  on  my  last  round,  have  missed  no  ap- 
pointment, and  expect  to  finish  my  work  on  the  first  of 
March. 

"  Through  mercy  I  have  had  good  health,  filled  three  ap- 
pointments every  Sabbath,  and  met  the  classes  after  preach- 
ing, wet  or  dry,  cold  or  warm,  snow  or  hail.  We  have  had 
some  revivals,  conversions,  <fec.,  and  more  than  ffty  have 
been  taken  in  on  probation  ;  but  there  have  also  been  many 


JACOB  GRUBEB.  467 

removals,  and  some  backslidings.  Alas !  for  some  they  are 
unstable  as  water.    What  shall  we  do  with  them  ? 

"  We  have  half  a  dozen  or  more  Sunday-schools,  a  report 
of  which  will  be  made  at  the  conference.  Brother  Maclay 
attended  to  the  books  and  periodicals.  Being  a  young  man 
I  thought  it  would  be  an  advantage  to  him.  Money  is  very 
scarce  here,  but  they  will  do  a  little  for  the  Missionary  So- 
ciety, (fee. 

"  It  is  to  be  feared  some  of  our  brethren  are  bearing  too 
hard  on  some  stations  and  circuits  for  money.  Some  persons 
are  not  able  to  pay  more  than  they  do,  and  some  are  not 
willing ;  and  there  is  no  law  nor  gospel  to  make  them  pay ; 
nor  has  the  Lord  any  '  day  of  his  power'  in  which  he  will 
make  them  '  willing.'  So  we  must  trust  Him  who  has  said, 
*  Bread  shall  be  given,  and  water  shall  be  sure.' 

"  I  have  been  sorry  for  some  young  preachers  whose  quar- 
terage was  taken,  in  part,  to  make  up  the  table  expenses  of 
married  preachers.  I  approve  of  a  piece  in  the  Advocate, 
some  weeks  ago,  except  the  last  paragraph,  in  which  it  is 
stated  that  the  young  preacher  must  have  a  sulky  to  carry 
the  books  he  has  to  study,  (fee.  This  is  a  mistake.  Many 
never  had  a  sulky,  but  carried  books  to  read  and  circulate  in 
saddlebags  and  portmanteaus,  to  the  amount  of  twenty  or 
thirty  dollars  at  a  time.  Persons  bought  them  and  the 
preachers  had  the  reading  of  them. 

"  I  would  like  to  see  a  preacher  with  a  sulky  among  these 
mountains,  and  on  many  circuits  where  I  have  rode.  I 
guess  he  and  his  horse  would  both  get  sulky^  and  stop,  and 
turn  back." 

GRUBEB  NOT  AFRAID  TO  GO  HOME. 

When  Jacob  Gruber  was  about  to  cross  Jordan's  stream, 
a  brother  minister  inquired  if  he  was  afraid  to  die? 
"  Afraid  to  die,"  said  he,  "  that  must  be  a  very  poor  home 
which  a  person  is  afraid  to  go  to." 


468  THE  HEROES  OF  METHODISM. 

The  old  pilgrim  has  gone  liome ;  the  old  soldier  has  fought 
his  last  battle,  passed  through  the  last  conflict,  and  gone 
home  to  share  the  rewards  of  victor''.  We  conclude  with 
the  following 

LINES  IN  MEMORY  OF  THE  REV.  JACOB  GRUBER. 

Rest  from  thy  labours,  rest ! 

Warrior,  resign  thy  trust ; 
The  mem'ry  of  thy  name  is  blest. 

The  mem'ry  of  the  just. 
A  star  is  lost  below, 

An  orb  is  found  above, 
To  spread  anew  the  burning  glow 

Of  everlasting  love. 

For  threescore  years  and  ten 

He  walk'd  the  earth  till  even ; 
For  fifty  years  he  oflFer'd  men 

Salvation,  life,  and  heaven. 
Then  to  his  promised  rest 

He  turn'd  with  faltering  tread, 
And  found  on  the  Redeemer's  breast 

A  place  to  lay  his  head. 

Fallen — at  close  of  day ; 

Fallen — beside  his  post ; 
At  sunset  came  the  bright  array, 

The  chariots  and  the  host. 
With  triumph  on  his  tongue, 

With  radiance  on  his  brow. 
He  pass'd  with  that  exulting  throng, 

And  shares  their  glory  now. 

Warrior,  thy  work  is  done  ! 

Victor,  the  crown  is  given ! 
The  jubilee  at  last  begun. 

The  jubilee  of  heaven. 
Rest  from  thy  labours,  rest ! 

Rise  to  thy  triumph,  rise  ! 
And  join  the  anthems  of  the  blest. 

The  Sabbath  of  the  skies. 

H.  J.  Meek. 


NOTE -PORTRAIT  OF  ASBURY. 


On  page  40  there  is  an  account  of  the  manner  in  which  Bishop 
Asbury's  portrait  was  obtained  in  Baltimore.  Some  have  sup- 
posed this  to  be  the  first  portrait,  and  others  the  only  one  ever 
taken  of  the  venerable  bishop.  This  is  incorrect.  Bishop 
Asbury,  in  a  letter  to  his  mother,  from  Maryland,  as  early 
as  1 784,  says :  "  There  is  one  thing  that  to  me  savours  of  human 
pride,  and  vanity,  and  expense  ;  that  is,  to  have  my  portrait 
drawn,  which  I  will  have  done  if  it  is  any  satisfaction  to  you,  if 
it  will  remind  you  of  me,  and  stir  you  up  to  pray  that  God  may 
keep  me ;  for  there  never  was  a  man  of  smaller  abilities  raised 
so  high.  If  you  desire  my  portrait,  send  me  word  in  your  next." 
—Methodist  Quarterly,  1831,  p.  206. 

Mr.  Asbury  says  in  his  Journal,  May  27th,  1808 :  "  At  the 
request  of  some  preachers  in  England,  and  at  the  desire  of  the 
General  Conference,  I  sat  to  Mr.  BrufF,  who  took  my  likeness  in 
crayon."  Some  years  after  Paradise,  in  New- York,  painted  au 
excellent  likeness  of  the  bishop,  which  is  still  at  the  Book  Room. 
Father  Boehm  was  the  bishop's  travelling  companion  then,  and 
says,  80  true  was  the  painting,  so  correct  the  likeness,  that  after 
it  was  sent  to  the  bishop's  room,  a  preacher  called,  and  he  was 
absent,  but  on  being  introduced  into  his  room,  and  seeing  the 
painting,  he  thought  for  a  moment  it  was  the  bishop,  and  com- 
menced addressing  him,  and  found  that  he  was  talking  to 
canvass.  The  engraving  of  the  bishop's  likeness  was  from  this 
painting,  and  the  picture  appeared  in  the  first  volume  of  the 
Methodist  *M&gazme  in  1^513.  In  1686,.r.t  tho  time  th'i  Book 
Room  was'  coivsuiAed."  th«*/ plate  (jf  Asbury  ^.iptis  ,dv?sfjo/ed,  and 
for  twenty  years  we  have  had  no  engraving  of  him.  The 
Bool?  Agents  have  been  to  the  expense  of  a  new  picture  from 


470 


HEROES  OF  METHODISM. 


an  engraving  on  steel,  and  that  expressly  for  this  volume. 
We  rejoice  that  this  work  is  graced  with  so  good  a  likeness 
of  the  venerated  Asbury,  who  was  the  great  hero  of  Meth- 
odism in  America.  It  is  taken  from  the  painting  by  Para- 
dise. The  reader  will  be  interested  in  the  history  of  the  bishop's 
portrait  which  was  taken  in  Baltimore.  Gabriel  P.  Disosway, 
Esq.,  has  just  visited  that  city,  where  they  have  recently  formed 
a  Methodist  Historical  Society,  which  is  bringing  many  things 
to  light  of  great  interest  to  the  Methodist  family,  and  among  the 
rest  the  fate  of  this  portrait.  Among  other  relics,  he  says,  that 
"  the  original  portrait  of  Mr.  Asbury  is  deposited  among  the 
curiosities.    This  picture  has  had  a  singular  history. 

"  It  once  hung  over  the  fire-place  of  a  planter's  parlour 
in  Maryland,  and  where  a  bed  had  been  made  for  one  of 
his  men  beastly  drunk.  Here  he  was  laid  down,  entirely  insen- 
sible. Just  as  the  day  was  breaking,  and  the  rays  of  light  were 
dimly  falling  upon  the  portrait,  he  began  to  awake  from  his 
drunken  stupor ;  his  eyes  first  fell  upon  the  uplifted  hand  of  the 
venerable  bishop,  and  he  fearfully  fancied  the  day  of  judgment 
had  come,  and  that  the  Divine  King,  with  upraised  arm,  was 
about  to  pronounce  the  last  sentence  of  condemnation  upon  him. 

"  The  sight  produced  a  powerful  and  salutary  influence  upon 
his  mind,  leading  him  to  repentance,  amendment,  and  conver- 
sion. The  dead  canvass  spoke  life-giving  thoughts  and  saving 
impressions. 

"  In  the  changes  of  time  and  families,  the  painting,  too,  has 
also  been  used  as  a  fire-hoard^  and  while  thus  employed,  a  hole 
was  made  through  it  for  the  stove-pipe.  Fortunately  for  those 
who  love  to  gaze  on  that  serious,  mild,  and  religions 
face,  the  fingers  and  hand  were  only  cut  off  in  making 
this  opening.  Perhaps  the  mutilators  had  some  respect  for  the 
bishop's  face,  else  he  might  have  been  decapitated  on  the  occa- 
sion, or  nearly  so.  The  Historical  Society,  however,  (thanks  to 
their  industry,)  have  rescued  the  old  picture  from  its  unbishop-like 
and  forgotten  position,  and  ordered  its  restoration.  Now  it  will 
he,  a  gem  in  its  collection,  and  carefully  preserved  for  hundreds 
to  study  ?nci  l'>ok'.at,.wh?  ^hanl^  God  fci'  the  uccful  Mfe  of  Bishop 
Asbury,  i*nd  bbss  his  pious  memoiy  r  Thesfe  particulars  are 
authentic,  as  I  learn  them  from  that  excellent  chronicler  of 
Methodism,  Dr.  P.obertf." 


NEW  BOOKS 

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Six  Steps  to  Honor. 

Six  Steps  to  Honor;  or,  Great  Truths  Illustrated.    Square  12mo 
Price,  65  cents. 

Contents.  First  Step— Obedience.  Second  Step— Truthfulness.  Third 
Step— Honesty.  Fourth  Step— Kindness.  Fifth  Stei>— Energy  and  Perse- 
verance. Sixth  Step — Piety. 
Beautifully  illustrated  with  six  engravings.  It  is  designed  as  a  gift-book  for 
the  holidays,  and  should  be  read  by  all  the  boys  in  the  land,  as  it  contains 
truths  and"  suggestions  which,  if  rightly  followed  out,  will  be  the  means  of 
making  them  good  and  useful  men. 

Henry's  Birthday; 

Or,  Beginning  to  be  a  Missionary.    A  new  Gift-Book,  beautifully 
illustrated.   Square  12mo.   Price,  35  cents. 

A  Winter  at  ¥ood  Lawn. 

A  Winter  at  Wood  Lawn ;  or,  the  Armor  of  Light  Illustrated.  Square 
12mo.  Price,  muslin,  65  cents. 
This  charming  volume  is  intended  as  a  gift-book  for  boys  and  girls  between 
the  ages  of  eleven  and  fifteen.  In  a  series  of  interesting  conversations  con- 
cerning the  armor  of  the  Christian,  which  are  relieved  by  lively  Incidents,  it 
imparts  many  valuable  religious  lessons,  and  communicates  many  important 
facts.   It  is  elegantly  and  profusely  illustrated. 

Boys  and  Girls'  Hlustrated  Olio. 

Square  8vo.   Price,  muslin,  70  cents. 
This  is  literally  a  picture-book,  for  it  contains  one  hundred  illustbatiokb. 
A  more  elegantly  illustrated  gift-book,  for  boys  and  girls  between  the  ages  of 
nine  and  fourteen,  will  not,  we  feel  sure,  be  issued  in  this  country.   Its  read- 
ing matter  is  instructive  and  unexceptionable. 

Faithful  Nicolette. 

Faithful  Nicolette ;  or,  the  French  Nurse.   18mo.  Price,  muslin, 
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This  is  a  charmingly  written  little  book,  translated  from  the  German  by  Mrs. 
Myers.  It  illustrates  the  fidelity  of  a  servant,  the  cheerful  submission  of  two 
lovely  children  to  great  trials,  and  the  providence  of  God  in  caring  for  those 
who  trust  in  him.  We  shall  be  disappointed  if  the  name  of  Good  Nicolette 
does  not  become  a  household  word  in  thousands  of  families.  The  volume  has 
several  very  superior  engravings. 

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This  is  a  delightful  little  book,  containing  the  singular  history  of  an  orphan 
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will  make  many  weep,  while  her  goodness  will  command  admiration. 


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The  Young  Man  Advised. 

The  Youns^  Man  Advised:  Illustrations  and  Confirmations  of  eoma 
of  the  Chief  Historical  Facts  of  the  Bible.  By  E.  0.  Haven,  D.  D 
12mo.,   pp.  329.    Price,  75  cents. 

Let  no  one  suppose  that  we  have  here  a  book  of  commonplace  counsels  to  the 
young.  The  ■writer  has  seized  upon  some  of  the  chief  historical  facts  of  the  Bible, 
from  which  he  lias  drawn  illustrations,  which  he  commends  to  the  study  and 
instruction  of  his  readers,  and  thus  in  a  new  and  most  striking  form  has  conveyed 
great  practical  truths  which  can  hardly  fail  to  make  a  deep  impression  upon  the 
yonthful  mind.  He  displays  no  slight  degree  of  research  in  his  own  studies, 
and  the  whole  is  clothed  with  such  historical  beauty  as  will  charm  while  hi* 
words  will  instruct  the  student— ^'eto  -  York  Observer. 

Bishop  Baker  on  the  Discipline. 

A  Guide-Book  in  the  Administration  of  the  Discipline  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church.  By  Osmon  C.  Baker,  D.  D.  12mo.,  "pp.  253. 
Price,  GO  cents. 

This  is  truly  a  volume  for  the  times,  as  it  will  furnish  important  aid  to  every 
administrator  of  discipline.  The  book  is  an  indispensable  one  to  every  preacher, 
and  as  such  we  recommend  it  without  hesitation.— Tf'&jiern  Cliristian  Advo- 
cate. 

Preaching  required  by  the  Times. 

Essays  on  the  Preaching  required  by  the  Times,  and  the  best  Methods 
of  obtaining  it ;  with  Reminiscences  and  Illustrations  of  Methodist 
Preaching:  including  Rules  for  Extemporaneous  Preaching,  and 
Characteristic  Sketches  of  Oliii,  Fisk,  Bascom,  Cookman,  Summer- 
field,  and  other  noted  extemporaneous  Preachers.  By  Abel 
Stevexs.    12mo.,    Price,  65  cents. 

A  Model  for  Men  of  Business. 

A  Model  for  Men  of  Business  :  or,  the  Christian  Layman  contemplated 
among  his  Secular  Occupations.  Revised  and  Modified  from  the 
Lectures  of  Rev.  Hugh  Stowell,  M.  A.,  Incumbent  of  Christ's 
Church,  Salford.  With  an  Introduction,  by  Rev.  D.  Curry.  IGmo., 
pp.  322.    Price,  35  cents. 

An  excellent  little  volume,  indicating  its  character  In  its  title-page,  and  forcibly 
presenting  the  morality  of  the  Gospel  to  the  acceptance  of  men  of  business.  There 
Lj  so  much  in  evory-day  life  to  call  our  thoughts  away  fromGod — so  much  to  blunt 
our  sennibilities  to  the  moral  principles  which  should  govern  and  direct  every 
Christian  man  in  all  his  intercourse  with  the  world,  that  a  book  like  this  cannot 
but  be  a  most  profitable  companion  for  all  who  desire  to  be  at  last  accepted  in 
C'lirist  Jesus.  "We  welcome  its  appearance.  For  sale  at  the  Methodist  book 
etorcs  generally. — MfVt.  I'roUxUtnt. 


NEW  BOOKS, 

PUBLISHED  BY  CARLTON  AND  PORTER, 
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FOR  SALE  AI^O  BY  J.  P.  MAGEE,  5  CORNHILL,  BOSTON,  AND 
H.  H.  MATTESON,  SENECA-STREET,  BUFFALO. 


The  Life  and  Times  of  Bishop  Hedding. 

Life  and  Times  of  Rev.  Elijah  Hedding,  D.  D.,  late  Senior  Bishop  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  By  Rev.  D.  W.  Clark,  D.  D. 
With  an  Litroduction,  by  Rev.  Bishop  E.  S.  Janks.  Pp.  686.  Price, 
large  12mo.,  $1  50 ;  8vo.,  $2  00. 
A  memoir  of  the  Itev.  Dr.  Hedding.  late  senior  bishop  of  the  Methodist  Church,  • 
has  been  prepared  by  the  Rev.  Dr.  Clark,  which  is  published  in  a  handsome 
volume.  It  professes  to  portray  the  life  and  times  of  this  venerable  man,  and 
involve.^  almost  the  entire  history  of  this  denomination,  at  least  for  some  thirty 
years  past.  In  the  controversies  and  vicissitudes  of  the  denomination  during 
this  period,  Bishop  Hedding  took  always  a  prominent  part,  giving  the  character- 
istic form  and  policy  to  the  issue.  Ho  was  evidently  a  man  of  great  energy  and 
power,  and  possessed  those  personal  qualities  which  make  fast  friends  and  gave 
him  a  preponderating  influence  in  the  Church  of  which  he  was  so  long  bishop. 
The  religious  traits  of  his  character  were  prominent  as  well  as  peculiar.  The 
memoir  is  composed  with  great  beauty  of  style  and  affectionateness  of  feeling: 
and  altogether  it  will  be  regarded  by  the  denomination  as  a  welcome  and 
Instructive  work.— A'eto -  ForA;  Evangelist. 

We  have  received  a  copy  of  this  work,  which  presents,  mechanically,  an 
elegant  appearance.  We  have  not  yet  found  time  for  its  perusal,  but  when  we 
do,  we  shall  speak  more  minutely  of  it.  The  name  of  Bishop  Hedding  lingers 
in  the  memory  of  the  Church  like  the  fragrance  of  a  rose  after  its  beauty  hath 
departed,  and  is  cherished  with  a  filial  fondness,  while  that  of  the  talented 
author  is  a  surety  that  his  onerous  but  honorable  task  is  well  performed.  This 
book  must  have  a  large  and  ready  sale. — North- WesUrn  Christian  Advocate. 

Life  of  Rev.  Robert  Newton. 

The  Life  of  Rev.  Robert  Newton,  D.  D.,  by  Thomas  Jackson,  em- 
hellished  with  a  fine  portrait.    12mo.,  pp.  427.   Price,  $1  00. 
This  volumeis  destined  to  have  a  great  run.   Although  it  has  been  published  in 
London  but  a  few  weeks,  sixteen  thousand  copies  have  already  been  sold. 

Temporal  Power  of  the  Pope. 

The  Temporal  Power  of  the  Pope :  containing  the  Speech  of  the  Hon. 
Joseph  R.  Chandler,  delivered  in  the  House  of  Representatives  of 
the  United  States,  January  11,  1855,  With  Nine  Letters,  stating 
the  prevailing  Roman  Catholic  Theory  in  the  Language  of  Papal 
Writers.  By  John  M'Clintock,  D.D.  12mo.,  pp.  154.  Price,  45 
cents. 

A  series  of  letters  to  the  Hon.  J.  R.  Chandler,  stating  the  prevailing  Eoman 
Catholic  theory  in  the  language  of  papal  writers,  forms  the  substance  of  this 
volume.  They  were  prepared  in  reference  to  the  speech  of  Mr.  Chandler, 
delivered  at  the  last  session  of  Congress,  and  from  the  position  and  character  of 
the  writer,  as  well  as  from  his  mode  of  treating  the  subject,  are  eminently 
deserving  of  public  attention. — iV^  Y.  THhxme. 

Carlton  &  Phillips,  No.  200  Mulbeixy-street,  New- York,  have  just  issued  a 
neat  duodecimo  volume  of  one  hundred  and  fifty-four  pages,  with  the  foregoing 
title.  It  needs  not  that  we  say  the  work  is  a  most  timely  and  masterly  produe- 
Hon. —  Western  C Jurist ian  Advocate. 


NEW  BOOKS, 

PUBLISHED  BY  CARLTON  AND  PORTER, 
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FOE  SALE  ALSO  BY  J.  P.  MAGEE,  5  CORyHILL,  BOSTON,  AND 
H.  H.  MATTESON,  SENECA-STREET,  BUFFALO. 

Systematic  Beneficence. 

THREE  PRIZE  ESSAYS. 
The  Great  Reform,  bv  Abel  Stevens. 
The  Great  Question,  by  Loeexzo  White. 

Property  Consecrated,  by  Bekjajiik  St.  James  Fey.    Price,  in  one 
volume,  40  cents. 

This  long-expected  ■work  is  at  length  published.  It  comprises  three  esssys. 
The  Geeat  Reform,  by  Abel  Stevens,  covers  126  pages.  It  is  invincible  In 
argument,  stirring  and  eloquent  in  expression.  The  Great  Qcestiok,  by  Rev. 
Lorenzo  White,  of  the  New-Eneland  Conference,  covers  2S4  pages.  It  lacks 
the  directness  of  the  former,  but  is  scarcely  less  powerful  in  argument  or  stirring 
in  appeal.  The  elucidation  of  Scriptural  rules  of  beneficence  should  be  carefully 
studied.  We  commend  chapter  tenth  to  the  consideration  of  those  in  the 
ministry  who  have  excused  themselves  from  giving,  because  they  had  given 
themselves  to  the  ministry.  Property  Consecrated,  by  Rev.  Benjamin  St. 
James  Fry.  of  the  Ohio  Conference,  covers  124  pages.  It  is  full  of  strong  thoughts, 
clearly  and  forcibly  expressed,  and  is  well  worthy  of  the  honor  awarded  to  it 
Its  title  is  strikingly  expressive  as  well  as  its  arguments. — Ladies'  Repository. 

Selections  from  the  British  Poets. 

By  Eliza  Woodworth.  With  ticelve  Illustrations.  Large  12mo., 
pp.  365.  Price  $1. 
The  plan  of  this  book  of  Selections  is  well  conceived.  It  takes  in  the  whole 
range  of  British  poets,  from  Chaucer  down  to  Tennyson,  and  gives  brief  biograph- 
ical and  critical  notices  of  each,  with  some  of  their  best  and  most  striking  pas- 
sages as  specimens.— J/€f^ocZ<5«  Quarterly  Eetiew. 

Natural  Goodness. 

By  Rev.  T.  F.  Raxdolph  Mep.ceix,  M.  A.  Price  65  cents. 
Its  full  title-page  will  sufficiently  declare  its  object.  It  is  set  forth  as  containing 
"  suggestions  toward  an  appreciative  view  of  moral  men.  the  philosophy  of  the 
present  svstem  of  morality,  and  the  relation  of  natural  virtue  to  religion."'  With- 
out agreeinir  with  the  author  fully  in  his  view  of  the  natural  virtues,  we  have 
found' his  discussion  one  of  the  most  interesting  and  able  which  has  ever  fallen 
under  our  notice,  and  we  earnestly  commend  it  to  the  attention  of  that  large 
class  of  intelligent  and  amiable  men  who  arc  resting  upon  their  morality.  For 
Biile  by  Ide  &  'DwitovL—ChHstian  Witness. 

Daniel  verified  in  History  and  Chronolo?)'. 

Showing  the  complete  Fulfillment  of  all  his  Prophecies  relating  to 
Civil  Affairs,  before  the  close  of  the  Fifth  Century.    By  A.  M. 
OsBOK,  D.  D.    With  an  Introduction,  by  D.  D.  Whedox,  D.  D. 
12mo.,  pp.  202.   Price  60  cents. 
As  the  result  of  much  patient  studv.  Dr.  Osbon  has  here  given  us  new  and 
striking  views  of  that  portion  of  Holy  Writ  to  which  his  attention  has  been 
specially  directed.    His  positions  are  antagonistic  to  those  of  all  previous  expos- 
itors with  which  we  are  acquainted.    He  states  them  clearly  and  forcibly,  yet 
with  becoming  modesty,  and  meets  the  objections  to  his  theory  with  argumenta 
not  easily  refuted.— C^tmiian  Advocate  and  Joitrnak 


